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EPA Increases Amount of Renewable Fuel To Be Blended Into Gasoline (arstechnica.com)
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Last week the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its final renewable fuel standards for 2017, requiring that fuel suppliers blend an additional 1.2 billion gallons of renewable fuel into U.S. gas and diesel from 2016 levels. The rule breaks down the requirements to include quotas for cellulosic biofuels, biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and traditional renewable fuel. Reuters points out that the aggressive new biofuel standards will create a dilemma for an incoming Trump administration, given that his campaign courted both the gas and corn industries. While the EPA under the Obama administration has continually increased so-called renewable fuel standards (RFS), the standards were first adopted by a majority-Republican Congress in 2005 and then bolstered in 2007 with a requirement to incorporate 36 billion gallons of renewable fuel into the fuel supply by 2022, barring "a determination that implementation of the program is causing severe economic or environmental harm," as the EPA writes. Some biofuels are controversial not just for oil and gas suppliers but for some wildlife advocates as well. Collin O'Mara, CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, said in a statement that the corn ethanol industry that most stands to benefit from the EPA's expansion of the renewable fuel standards "is responsible for the destruction of millions of acres of wildlife habitat and degradation of water quality." Still, the EPA contends that biofuels made from corn and other regenerating plants offer reductions in overall fuel emissions, if the processes used to make and transport the fuels are included. "Advanced biofuels" will offer "50 percent lifecycle carbon emissions reductions," and their share of the new standards will grow by 700 million gallons in 2017 from 2016 requirements, the EPA says. Cellulosic biofuel will be increased by 81 million gallons and biomass-based diesel will be increased by 100 million gallons. "Non-advanced or 'conventional' renewable fuel" will be increased to 19.28 billion gallons from 18.11 billion gallons in 2016. Conventional renewable fuel "typically refers to ethanol derived from corn starch and must meet a 20 percent lifecycle GHG [greenhouse gas] reduction threshold," according to EPA guidelines. Other kinds of renewable fuels include sugarcane-based ethanol, cellulosic ethanol derived from the stalks, leaves, and cobs leftover from a corn harvest, and compressed natural gas gleaned from wastewater facilities.
His proposed tax plan pretty much only reduces taxes for the super rich. The high end of the brackets will have up to 7% decreased marginal rate, while low and middle income families will see somewhere between .5-1% decreased rate unless you are a single parent or have more than two children as a couple, then you could actually pay more taxes. Also if you are a single person with no children making between about $120k-190k you will pay more taxes.
They did specify total efficiency, did you not read the summary? It says 20-50% reduction in lifecycle emissions, which include production and transportation of the fuel as well as burning it.
Force gas station to post in HUGE LETTERS the percentage and warnings against using it in cars older than 2003. 15% and higher will cause hell in older cars with shitty ECM's
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
Actually, it won't ruin many engines. Certainly none built after the late 90's.
Most people don't know that the only difference between an eco-fuel ford car and its non eco-fuel badged - is a software setting.
I used to be one of the people that thought the increased alcohol content would ruin gaskets, hoses, and cylinder walls, but the auto industry has already addressed it years ago.
Also, for around 150 bucks - most cars can be converted to run on ethanol, e-85, or methanol.
_ _ _ Go for the eyes Boo! GO FOR THE EYES!
Outboard boat motors, Chainsaws, String trimmers, Lawn Mowers, ATVs, Jet Skis, Snowmobiles, Motorcycles, etc.... None of them were designed to run on ethanol.
The bored bureaucrats at the EPA need to feel useful.
Ethanol subsides are not something dreamed up by the EPA.
They are mandated by Congress.