Low carbon biofuels are key to Canada’s goal of reducing fuels carbon intensity by 11 percent, say experts

In Canada, Growth Energy, the U.S. Grains Council, and Renewable Fuels Association jointly submitted comments to Environment and Climate Change Canada supporting their goal of reducing the carbon intensity of Canada’s fuel stream through the Clean Fuel Standard. The comments offered recommendations on how biofuels, like ethanol, can help reach the ECCC Regulatory Design Paper’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 23 megatons by 2030.

“While there are several details that are yet to be determined, we support the laudable and achievable goal to reduce the carbon intensity of the liquid fuel stream by 11 percent, ultimately leading to a 23-megaton reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. We believe that by using low carbon biofuels such as ethanol, Canada can succeed in its own greenhouse gas reduction goals.” The comments suggested expanding the current minimum blending requirement for biofuels from 5 percent to 10 percent nationwide. 

Meanwhile in Washington, bioeconomy stakeholders are focusing EPA’s attention on release a legally-defensible rulemaking for E15 use year-round and recommit to finalizing the rule by the June 1 summer driving season. Stakeholders pointed out in comments that “there are less than 100 days until June 1, leaving no time for EPA to waste in publishing a proposed rule in the Federal Register for public comment and to finalize the rule before the low-RVP season kicks-in.” The overall industry strategy has been to encourage EPA to decouple potential Renewable Identification Number (RIN) reforms from the E15 rulemaking.

With the Senate confirmation of new EPA head Andrew Wheeler, the American Coalition for Ethanol called on the new administrator to  “uphold the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) as the law of the land by reallocating the 2.25 billion gallons of ethanol blending unlawfully waived by former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt.”

More on the Canada story.