U.S. EPA’s new biofuel targets.

The U.S. EPA has issued a final rule setting biofuel volume requirements for the next three years under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) programme. As reported by Diesel Progress magazine, the rule sets target volumes for Cellulosic biofuel, Biomass-based diesel, Advanced biofuel and Renewable fuel.

In announcing the rules, the EPA said they were based on a number of factors specified in the enabling legislation. These include costs, air quality, climate change, implementation of the programme to date, energy security, infrastructure issues, commodity prices, water quality and supply. The agency also said implementation of the new rules would reduce U.S. oil imports by an estimated 130,000 to 140,000 barrels per day saving up to $192 million USD annually.

Critics of the rule said the goals did not go far enough to support either the necessary growth of the renewable fuels industry or meet climate change driven carbon emission reduction goals. Speaking against the rules were representatives from the Diesel Technology Forum and the Clean Fuels Alliance.