EPA Proposes Renewable Fuels Standards for 2019 and 2020

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a proposed update to Renewable Fuel Standard Program for the years 2019 and 2020, pursuant to requirements under Section 211 of the Clean Air Act. The proposed rule would modestly increase the total volume of renewable fuels that must be blended into gasoline and diesel to 19.88 billion gallons in 2019 (a 3.1% increase over 2018 levels). The proposal would also increase the  volume standard for biomass-based diesel from 2.1 to 2.43 billion gallons in 2020. In addition, the proposal would establish percentage blend standards for cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel for 2019.

Commentators have described this proposal as a maintenance of the status quo insofar as it does not significantly increase or decrease volume and blend requirements for renewable fuels.