Advanced BioFuels USA

(Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner)  Today (January 31, 2017), Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner introduced two bills aimed at reforming the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and the national biofuels mandate. Taken together, these bills call for the additional study and evaluation of our ever-increasing ethanol mandate and to ensure Environmental Protection Agency volume obligations for biofuels are based in reality.

The first bill, the comprehensive mid-level ethanol assessment legislation, requires the National Academy of Sciences to provide a comprehensive assessment of research on the implications of the use of mid-level ethanol blends – fuel containing more than 10 percent ethanol by volume –  compared to gasoline blends containing 10 percent or zero percent ethanol. The study will evaluate the performance, safety, and environmental impact of mid-level ethanol blended fuels.

The second bill focuses on cellulosic biofuel assessment. This legislation relaxes the Environmental Protection Agency’s volume requirements for cellulosic biofuel under the RFS to what is commercially available until the National Academy of Sciences submits to Congress a report on the environmental and economic impacts of cellulosic biofuel, and the feasibility of large scale commercial production.

These common sense bills ensure that hardworking American fuel consumers are not needlessly subjected to ineffectual and burdensome government regulations.

Congressman Sensenbrenner: “As a former member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, I have always believed science-based decision making must guide our assessment of the RFS and the effects this policy has had on consumers, our economy, and our environment. This is especially true in a state like Wisconsin, where the use of recreational vehicles and marine engines is a way of life for many of its residents.”  READ MORE and MORE (Biofuels International) and MORE (DTN Progressive Farmer) and MORE (Biomass Magazine) and MORE (Ethanol Producer Magazine)

Excerpt from Biomass Magazine:  H.R. 776 calls for the volume of cellulosic biofuel mandated under the RFS to be limited to what is commercially available until a comprehensive study is completed. The bill also calls for the EPA to enter into an agreement with the National Academies for a comprehensive study on the annual production capacity for cellulosic biofuel and the resources needed to ensure that transportation fuel sold or introduced into commerce in the U.S. contains at least 16 billion gallons of cellulosic biofuel in 2022. This includes the number of cellulosic ethanol facilities to be constructed, the acres of land to be used and the total capital investment needed. The report would also be required to address several other factors, including data on the energy balance of cellulosic fuels, the environmental impacts of producing cellulosic biofuel, a review of technology and the economics of a cellulosic ethanol facility.

For the proposes of the study, the legislation states that “cellulosic biofuel” would not include compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, or electricity used to power electrical vehicles that is produced form biogas generated from a landfill, municipal wastewater treatment facility digester, separated municipal solid waste digester or an agricultural digester. READ MORE and MORE (Renewable Energy World)