EPA adds biogas-based fuels to RFS, delays action on advanced biobutanol

July 3, 2014 |

In Washington, the EPA qualified additional fuel pathways for cellulosic biofuel under the National Renewable Fuel Standard program. This final rule also provides guidance regarding the feedstocks that EPA considers to be crop residues, including clarification that EPA considers corn kernel fiber to be a crop residue.

Unsurprisingly, crop residues won the EPA’s OK — but the delay on butanol is a shocker.

The new cellulosic and advanced biofuels pathways approved are:

1. Compressed natural gas produced from biogas from landfills, municipal wastewater treatment facility digesters, agricultural digesters, and separated MSW digesters

2. Liquefied natural gas produced from biogas from landfills, municipal wastewater treatment facility digesters, agricultural digesters, and separated MSW digesters

3. Electricity used to power electric vehicles produced from biogas from landfills, municipal wastewater treatment facility digesters, agricultural digesters, and separated MSW digesters

Other interesting Amendments to the RFS 

1. Use of crop residue as renewable fuel feedstock: This final rule specifies producers must include in their registration specific information about the types of residues which will be used, and record and report to EPA the quantities and specific types of residues used during production.

2. EPA is modifying the definition of small refinery so that the crude throughput threshold of 75,000 barrels per day must apply in the most recent full calendar year prior to an application for hardship.

3. EPA is changing the threshold for small blenders of renewable fuels that want to delegate renewable identification numbers (RIN) responsibilities from 125,000 gallons to 250,000 gallons.

Pathways not being finalized from original June 14 proposal in 2014

EPA is also not finalizing the proposed advanced butanol pathway,

and proposed pathways for the production of renewable diesel, naphtha and renewable gasoline from biogas.

More on the story.

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