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EPA Program Increases Use of Renewable Fuels

Posted on: Thursday, 9 March 2006, 09:00 CST

By Anonymous

This year, Americans will be gassing up with nearly 3 percent of clean-burning, domestic renewable fuels, such as ethanol, under new standards issued by the Environmental Protection Agency. Authorized by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the standard is the first step in the EPA's Renewable Fuels Standard Program, which is designed to reduce vehicle emissions and strengthen the country's energy security by doubling the use of fuels produced from American crops by 2012.

"Under Pres. Bush's leadership, we are addressing our nation's growing energy demand in a way that supports our goals for a clean environment and healthy economy," said EPA administrator Stephen L Johnson. "This investment in renewable fuels made from domestic crops will support American agriculture and replace fossil fuels with an increasing amount of cleaner-burning alternatives such as ethanol or biodiesel, illustrating that environmental progress and economic development can, in fact, go hand-in-hand."

The regulation, which was announced in December, explains how industry will comply with the Energy Policy Act's default provision requiring that 2.78 percent of the gasoline sold or dispensed to U.S. motorists in 2006 be renewable fuel. The regulation is intended to provide market certainty for smooth implementation of the program as the EPA expands the program. Many of the act's other provisions regarding the Renewable Fuel Standard Program for 2007 and beyond will be implemented in subsequent regulations.

The program will significantly increase the volume of renewable fuels blended into motor-vehicle fuels. Various renewable fuels can be used to meet the requirements of the program, including ethanol and biodiesel. Under this standard, refineries, blenders and importers will collectively be responsible for meeting program requirements for 2006, where compliance would be calculated over the entire pool of gasoline sold to consumers.

For more information on the Renewable Fuel Standard Program, visit www. epa.gov/otaq/renewablefuels/.

Copyright Adams/Hunter Publishing, Inc. Feb 2006

Source: NPN, National Petroleum News

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