EPA Calls for Flat Production in Biodiesel Through 2015

The Environmental Protection Agency proposed keeping the national volume requirement of biodiesel production at the 2013 level of 1.28 billion gallons a year through 2015, the agency said in the Federal Register.

At the same time, the agency also proposed a small increase in the blend-in standard to 1.16% in 2014 from 1.13% this year.

EPA also said in the Nov. 29 proposal that volume requirements and blend-in percentages for all renewable fuels and all advanced biofuels — of which biodiesel is a part — should be trimmed next year from current levels.

The only category slated for significant increase is cellulosic biofuel, which is largely ethanol made from sources other than corn. Cellulosic biofuel is the smallest of the categories covered in the Renewable Fuel Standard and is measured in millions of gallons per year. The others are stated in billions of gallons.

The National Biodiesel Board  criticized the proposal Dec. 3, asking for an increase in the 2014 production requirement to 1.7 billion gallons.