This week the EPA released their proposed RFS volumes for 2019/2020.

The proposal calls for 2.43 billion gallons of biomass-based diesel for 2020, which is a 330 million gallon increase over the 2019 levels. For total Advanced Biofuels, an overall category to which biodiesel also qualifies, EPA proposed 4.88 billion gallons for 2019, a 590 million gallon increase over 2018 levels.

While ASA is happy with the proposed future increases in biomass-based diesel volumes and the signal for growth that it provides, it could be negated by the unwarranted waivers of RFS volumes that EPA has recently granted to some petroleum refiners. Biofuels industry stakeholders are pressing the Administration on the need to reallocate the volumes that have been waived by EPA to ensure the RFS program is not diluted.

Dig Deeper: Background

Approximately 50 percent of biodiesel is produced from soybean oil, a byproduct of processing soybeans for protein in food products. This added value provides another source of income for soybean farmers; the added value for soybean oil means they’re able to make the protein for the food supply available at lower prices.

Made from an increasingly diverse mix of resources such as recycled cooking oil, soybean oil and animal fats, biodiesel is a renewable, clean-burning diesel replacement that can be used in existing diesel engines without modification. It is the nation’s first domestically produced, commercially available advanced biofuel.

Looking for more? Check out the National Biodiesel Board.