We Came in Peace: The Renewable Fuel Standard and the spirit of innovation

Should the Renewable Fuel Standard be saved? Depends on the scenario you believe in. The charts tell the tale.

If you happened to be a wide-eyed 6-year old in the fall of 1969, as I was, you might have received a copy of a book published and distributed by Gulf Oil called “We Came in Peace,” celebrating American know-how and the space program in general, and the successful 1969 moon landing in particular.

In publishing the book, doubtless Gulf Oil intended to associate itself with a triumph in engineering — and of the innovative spirit. The human spirit. That used to be the Houston way.

I still have that book, still love it. Worth noting that more than 40 years later I could recall from memory that it was published by an oil company.

This week in Washington, war has been renewed over the future of the Renewable Fuel Standard — and in many ways, a debate over the future of the innovative spirit. It comes down, ultimately, to a decision about which chart (of renewable fuels production capacity) you believe in.

And, how much faith you put in know-how.

In today’s Digest, we explore the oil industry’s view of renewable fuels over the next nine years of the RFS…and an alternative scenario. And then we discuss the options and the path forward, which you can view by clicking the page links below.