Public Comment Period Open for Proposed REGS Rule

The proposed EPA rule would update the Renewable Fuel Standard and foster higher level ethanol blends.

December 20, 2016

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – In mid-November, the EPA published a proposed rule, “the Renewable Enhancement and Growth Support (REGS),” in the Federal Register. The purpose of the proposal is to update the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program and other related fuel regulations to support increased use of higher levels of ethanol blends, such as E85, and encourage the increase in production of cellulosic and other advanced biofuels.

Specifically, EPA has proposed to define all mid- to high-level ethanol blends (E16-E83) that may be used only in flex fuel vehicles, such as Ethanol Flex Fuel, to establish quality standards for Ethanol Flex Fuel. These standards would be similar to the quality standards currently in place for gasoline, to simplify and streamline Ethanol Flex Fuel compliance requirements, to allow Renewable Identification Number (RIN) generation from renewable electricity, and to approve new sources for production of cellulosic biofuels. These new sources include cellulosic biofuels produced from short-rotation poplar and willow trees, cellulosic diesel produced from co-processing cellulosic feedstocks with petroleum and renewable diesel, and biodiesel produced from non-cellulosic portions of separated food waste.

For members of NACS, a more detailed summary of the proposal can be found here. EPA is accepting comments from the public until January 17, 2017.  NACS would like retailers’ input on how this rule would affect their businesses. Please contact Eva Rigamonti, counsel for NACS, at erigamonti@steptoe.com, if you have any questions. You can also contact Paige Anderson, director, government relations for NACS, at panderson@nacsonline.com

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