The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is joining a legal challenge against the European Union’s FuelEU Maritime Regulation, arguing it unfairly penalizes the use of crop-based biofuels in the maritime sector. The regulation aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in shipping by 2% by 2030 and up to 80% by 2050, with incentives for renewable fuels of non-biological origin. However, opponents argue the rules would disadvantage biofuels despite their lower emissions compared to conventional fuels.
RFA is supporting a challenge initiated by EU-based biofuels trade group ePure and biofuels firm Pannonia Bio, seeking to annul parts of the regulation. They argue the regulation unfairly equates crop-based biofuels with the highest emitting fossil fuels, thereby excluding them from decarbonization objectives. U.S. ethanol producers also fear being shut out of the growing EU market due to the biased regulation.
RFA emphasizes that ethanol and other renewable fuels have lower greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline, as demonstrated by a report from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory. They argue the regulation’s bias against crop-based biofuels not only harms ethanol producers globally but also discourages the development and use of low-carbon marine fuels in the U.S. and beyond.
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