The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalised the latest rules for the 2019 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) programme. The total US renewable fuel volume requirement for 2019 is 3.3% higher than the 2018 mandate but 30% lower than the statutory volume standards set forth by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007). In recent years, most of the advanced biofuel RFS credits have been generated from biomass-based diesel consumption.
The 2019 final volume requirements are set at 19.92 billion gallons (75.4 billion liters) of renewable fuels, including 4.92 billion gallons (18.62 billion liters) of advanced biofuels (+14.7% on 2016), 2.1 billion gallons (7.9 billion liters) of biomass-based diesel (stable on 2016) and 418 million gallons (1,582 million liters) of cellulosic biofuel (+45% on 2016). The volume requirement for biomass-based diesel for 2020 is set at 2.43 billion gallons (9.19 billion liters).
The EISA 2007 includes several types of biofuels: cellulosic, conventional, biomass-based diesel and other advances types such as sugarcane ethanol. It was adopted in 2007 with the aim of supporting energy independence both through the strengthening of the supply (opening of new zones to oil exploration, increase of the contribution of biofuels) and a reduction in demand (40% reduction in the consumption of cars, the implementation of standards on electrical appliances).