EPA's Final RFS Includes More Biofuels, Sparks Debate; Questionable Science

Date: February 18, 2010

Source: News Room

The EPA's just-issued final renewable fuel standard (RFS) attributes more greenhouse gas (GHG) benefits to many types of biofuels compared to its earlier proposed RFS that now allows biofuels such as corn ethanol and soy biodiesel to qualify for credit under the standard where they had failed earlier. The agency claims that new science and data compelled a change to its calculation methods. That is leading critics including some environmentalists to accuse the agency of intentionally "dumbing down" the standard to allow "problematic" biofuels such as corn ethanol to qualify based upon overly optimistic assumptions. Others including some lawmakers are raising questions about the scientific data that EPA used in the final standard, with petroleum industry officials separately attacking some of the RFS' fuel blending mandates as "likely unlawful." The final rule requires refiners to blend almost 13 billion gallons of biofuels into the fuel supply in 2010, including 6.5 million gallons of cellulosic biofuel and over one billion gallons of bio-based diesel. The standard is intended to increase the use of biofuels to 36 billion gallons by 2022.

EPA met fierce opposition when it issued its proposed RFS last spring mainly because it found some kinds of biofuels would not meet the mandated reduction requirement. The agency later changed its analysis based on new assumptions it developed before issuing its final rule. For example, in the case of corn ethanol, the agency considered new studies that show crop yields increase more quickly in response to higher crop prices meaning that less land is needed to grow them. Both environmentalists and refiners accuse the agency of falling victim to politics in lieu of real science.

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