Renewable Fuel Standard Increased for 2009

The EPA recently announced the renewable fuels requirement for 2009.

The 2009 renewable fuel standard (RFS) will be 10.21 percent to ensure that at least 11.1 billion gallons of renewable fuels be blended into transportation gasoline.

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) established the annual overall renewable fuel volume targets, reaching a level of 36 billion gallons in 2022. To achieve these volumes, EPA calculates a percentage-based standard by November 30 for the following year. Based on the standard, each refiner, importer and non-oxygenate blender of gasoline determines the minimum volume of renewable fuel that it must ensure is used in motor vehicle fuel. The 2008 standard was 7.76 percent, equating to roughly 9 billion gallons.

Source : EPA

This has caused some confusion though as some sources are saying that it requires 11.1 billion gallons of ethanol to be blended into the fuel supply next year. This isn't correct, the amount ethanol is set at 10.5 billion gallons, biodiesel is set at 500,000 gallons and 100,000 gallons must come from advanced biofuels for a total of 11.1 billion gallons.