Congress passed a law that said the U.S. needs to supplement its diesel supply with renewable biodiesel. Then the EPA stepped in and is now trying to shut it down. Friday is the deadline for public comments.
Link to site where you can easily submit your comments to the EPA:
Dear Biodiesel Stakeholder:
Today the National Biodiesel Board is launching our grassroots response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s(EPA) proposed rule on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS-2). We are calling on you and all supporters of clean,renewable energy to join us in urging the EPA to implement a workable RFS-2 program. In December of 2007, Congress
passed a law requiring that clean, renewable biodiesel be used to supplement the diesel fuel supply. Six months after they were required by law to have a program in place, the EPA proposed draft regulations that, if adopted, would make it extraordinarily difficult for the program to succeed as intended by the law. In order to effectively participate in the program, biodiesel must qualify as an “advanced biofuel” and reduce greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions by 50%. The EPA has concluded that biodiesel derived from vegetable oils reduces greenhouse gases by only 22%. The proposed rule includes an analysis of biodiesel’s lifecycle emissions, which would exclude all vegetable oils, or approximately 70% of the available raw material for biodiesel, from complying with the program. The
EPA’s conclusions are contrary to well documented, peer reviewed scientific evidence that has measured biodiesel from vegetable oil as reducing GHG emissions by approximately 80% when compared to diesel fuel.
The methodology employed by the EPA to determine biodiesel’s GHG emission profile under the RFS-2 program is based on questionable inputs and dubious assumptions about international land use changes that assign future carbon emissions to U.S. biodiesel resulting from hypothetical land clearing on other continents that have nothing to do with U.S. biodiesel production or use. To further illustrate how these assumptions do not accurately reflect reality, we know that Brazilian soy acreage actually decreased during the time when U.S. biodiesel production grew from 25 million gallons in 2004 to 690 million gallons in 2008. If the EPA’s assertions held water, the opposite would be the case.
The EPA’s proposed regulations threaten to undermine a straight-forward energy policy that if implemented as proposed would put many small and medium biodiesel producers out of business. The EPA has the authority under the law to implement a workable RFS-2 program that will allow our nation to reap the economic, environmental and energy security
benefits associated with the domestic production and use of biodiesel. However, in order to convince them, we believe it is imperative that biodiesel stakeholders and concerned citizens voice their support to the EPA for a workable, common sense RFS-2 program.
We need as many biodiesel supporters as possible to submit consistent comments. (update: the deadline for public comments has been extended to September 25). We have developed two sample comment documents. One is a shorter version that simply includes the top priority comments. The second is a longer version that includes more detail and
arguments to support the comments. The longer version is preferred, but we have created the abbreviated version to make it faster and easier for you to complete the process and to ask that others complete it as well. We ask you to submit your comments right away and reach out to your friends, work colleagues, and professional networks to do the same. Visit the“RFS-2 Action Center” on our website to access all of the information and resources you need. The NBB will be submitting more comprehensive comments later in July on behalf of the industry that will address all aspects of the proposed program as well as technical data in support of our positions. The future of the nation’s energy policy and biodiesel’s role in it is now at a critical point. Please join us in this landmarkeffort to help lead the nation forward toward a more sustainable, renewable, and prosperous future.
Sincerely,
Joe Jobe, CEO
National Biodiesel Board
</div> <!-- start story body -->
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Advanced biofuel producers announced the formation of the Low Carbon Synthetic Fuels Association (LCSFA), with members including TRI, Rentech Inc., Velocys, CHOREN, Flambeau River Biofuels/Johnson Timber, AP Fuels and World GTL. The LCSFA was formed to address existing legislative and regulatory inequities that have slowed or even hindered the development of advanced biofuels. To date, federal programs have resulted in incentives that do not necessarily promote or reward the best performing and most environmentally friendly fuels.
Specifically, the LCSFA represents the Biomass-to-Liquids (BtL) industry. One of the cleanest and most proven advanced biofuels, BtL is produced through the gasification of renewable biomass and the subsequent conversion of the gasified biomass using the Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) synthesis process. The renewable fuels produced are predominantly synthetic diesel and jet fuel, which are nearly identical to current crude oil-derived fuels, although significantly cleaner.
BtL fuels rely on an established synthesis technology (F-T) which can be brought to market quickly, unlike many other advanced biofuels, which remain in the research and development or “pre-commercial” stages. BtL fuels can be produced from abundant, non-food organic materials such as wood waste from urban recycling programs, paper mills or forestry residues, without increasing land use. Moreover, BtL fuels are fully compatible with the existing fuels infrastructure, enhance engine performance, and reduce emissions.
“We look forward to advanced biofuels mandated by Congress that will ensure the safe use and performance of the more than 400 million engine products in use today. LCSFA members may offer a viable solution to achieving national renewable fuel mandates,” said Kris Kiser, Executive VP of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute and Spokesperson for AllSAFE, a national manufacturing coalition of major onroad and nonroad engine, vehicle, and equipment manufacturers whose members’ products consume gasoline, diesel, and the variety of biofuels that are blended with those conventional fuels.
Through the LCSFA, participants along the whole value chain (from biomass feedstock producers, gasification and F-T technology providers, and project developers, to consumers of the product and manufacturers of affected engines, vehicles and equipment) can speak with one voice to achieve needed improvements and incentives.
On September 25, the LCSFA urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in its comments to promote clean, renewable advanced biofuels that improve air quality, reduce GHG emissions, and are compatible with the existing engines, equipment and fuels infrastructure. This week, the EPA will begin considering comments on its “Changes to Renewable Fuel Standard Program” (“RFS2 Proposal”). The LCSFA’s comments are endorsed by a range of partners including Auburn University, Audi America, Chemrec AB, Mercedes Benz USA, Pacific Renewable Fuels, Renewable Energy Institute International, and Volkswagen.
The expansion of the Renewable Fuels Standard by Congress creates substantial mandates for advanced biofuels, and BtL fuels could ultimately contribute significantly to meeting such mandates. According to Jim McVaney, Vice President, Government Affairs for Rentech Inc., “A well constructed renewable fuels standard that rewards fuels for their quality, performance and ability to reduce emissions will clearly be helpful to the growth of BtL fuels.”
According to William Guerry, who serves as General Counsel and represents the LCSFA before EPA and other government entities, “Through the implementation of the RFS2, the EPA has the opportunity to avoid picking favorites and move toward a regulatory structure that sets goals and rewards the best technology solutions. This will give fuel producers, marketers and even consumers greater flexibility when deciding how they comply with the new, higher mandates for renewable fuel use.”
Partner William Guerry and associate Alexander Menotti of Kelley Drye & Warren LLP filed comments on behalf of LCSFA.
LCSFA includes the following members:
TRI
Rentech Inc.
Velocys
CHOREN
Flambeau River Biofuels/Johnson Timber
AP Fuels
World GTL
Endorsers of the LCSFA’s Comments to the EPA:
Auburn University
Audi America
Chemrec AB
Mercedes Benz USA
Pacific Renewable Fuels
Renewable Energy Institute International
Volkswagen
<!-- end story body --> <!-- end story --> <!-- start contacts --> <h2 class="c epi-chromeHeader">
</h2>