GHG Regs Fuel Need for Infrastructure
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The first-ever U.S. regulation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has fueled an even greater urgency to expand E85 infrastructure.
April 1, the U.S. EPA and the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced a program to regulate GHG emissions and fuel economy in light-duty vehicles. It was announced at that time that automakers can continue to get credits for making flex-fuel vehicles (FFV) through 2015, after which it must be shown that the fuel is being utilized.
…With the phase-out date looming, it’s important that consumers have access to E85, Territo said. Otherwise, without the FFV credit or the ability to prove that E85 is being utilized, manufacturers won’t have the incentive to offer those types of vehicles.
…According to an EPA fact sheet, mobile sources, including certain off-highway sources, were responsible for 31 percent of all GHG emissions in 2007 in the U.S. Transportation sources, which have been the fastest growing source of GHGs since 1990, accounted for 28 percent. In addition, in the same year, the CO2 emissions from light-duty vehicles represented about 94 percent of total transportation GHG emissions.
The changes will come at an estimated cost of $52 billion to automakers. The net benefit, however, was estimated at $240 billion due to reduced gasoline use and lower emissions. Other benefits mentioned by the EPA include decreased CO2 and particulate matter, improved energy security and less frequent refueling. READ MORE
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