Soy biodiesel does not meet the proposed US emissions standards: EPA

In Washington, the Des Moines Register is reporting that its soy biodiesel will not meet greenhouse gas emission requirements as proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency, and soy biodiesel may not be able to be counted towards the 1 billion gallon per year target for 2022 set by the Renewable Fuel Stndard. The EPA, in is proposed rule, would give soy biodiesel a 22 percent reduction compared to emissions from conventional diesel, far less than the 50 percent required under the RFS. Iowa State University economist Bruce Babcock was quoted in the Register saying that soy biodiesel may be able to be blended with waste vegetable oil biodiesel (which is credited with an 80 percent reduction in emissions) in order to meet the target as an approved fuel pathway. A 50/50 blend would, at first glance, meet the EPA’s requirements.

The report comes as the biodiesel industry is struggling more than ever, with Digest sources reporting that less than 20 percent of biodiesel plants in the US are in production, and less than 30 percent of these are operating at break even or better. The National Biodiesel Board is reporting March production for the industry at 30 million gallons, or on the road to a 50 percent drop in production for the year compared to 2008.

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