April 20, 2007—The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established the nation’s first comprehensive Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program.
The RFS was mandated by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and requires that by 2012, the equivalent of at least 7.5 billion gallons of renewable fuel be blended into motor vehicle fuel sold in the United States. The RFS program is based on a credit trading system that provides a flexible means for industry to comply with the annual standard by allowing renewable fuels to be used where they are most economical, and it also allows the use of various renewable fuels to meet the minimum requirements.
By 2012, the program is estimated to cut petroleum use by up to 3.9 billion gallons and cut annual greenhouse gas emissions by up to 13.1 million metric tons, the equivalent of removing 2.3 million cars from the road.
The RFS program requires major refiners, blenders, and importers in the contiguous United States to use a minimum volume of renewable fuel each year between 2007 and 2012. For more information, see the EPA Web site.
