Biodiesel
The White House set a goal of producing 3 billion gal. of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by 2030. Senators say outdated climate data is keeping producers from reaching the finish line, but a new bill could change that.
Final blending levels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) are under review for 2023 and beyond. EPA is required to finalize the RFS levels by June 14, as per a consent agreement reached in court with Growth Energy.
Some 44% of U.S. soybean oil will go to biofuels during the current marketing year, said the monthly WASDE report. Two years ago, the biofuel share of soyoil consumption was 37%.
Renewable diesel is revving up interest from both agriculture and the oil industry, and now oil and agriculture companies are teaming up to find additional crop sources to fuel the growing demand.
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday suspended the RFS compliance obligations for two refineries that were denied small refinery exemptions by EPA in 2021.
Vilsack said USDA believes there are more options for farmers other than “get big or get out. There’s got to be a system in which the many and most have a fair shot.”
“The funds awarded today by the DOE will undoubtedly accelerate the innovations taking place at U.S. ethanol plants, opening new opportunities for low-cost, low-carbon energy,” says Growth Energy’s Emily Skor.
“A lot of people looked at the smaller landlocked crush facilities and said, ‘Does that make sense?” I think those locations will go away, and I’m not sure they should have been there to begin with,” Fife says.
EPA is seeking comment on it’s proposed RFS levels for 2023-2025, in addition to comments on environmental impacts from the RFS to include: assessments of air, water and soil quality, and biodiversity.
Renewable diesel capacity topped 2 billion gallons per year as of August, according to the latest data released from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. But EPA used a lower figure.