Nation Begins Transition to Renewable Transportation Fuels Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:

• Tony Kreindler, National Media Director, Climate, 202-445-8108, tkreindler@edf.org
• Britt Lundgren, Agricultural Policy Specialist, 202-572-3394, blundgren@edf.org
• Peter Ashcroft, Climate Policy Specialist, 202-904-8338, pashcroft@edf.org

(Washington – May 5, 2009) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today called for public input on the first national policy to fully account for greenhouse gas emissions from transportation fuels as the nation begins to implement new biofuel production requirements under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.

"Today's action opens the door for a broad and cooperative effort to cut global warming pollution from transportation fuels. There's a real opportunity here for the heartland and cities to work together," said Steve Cochran, national climate campaign director at Environmental Defense Fund.

"The outcome of this process and quick congressional action to cap greenhouse gas emissions will be crucial to reducing carbon pollution from the transportation sector," Cochran added.

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) mandates graduated increases in the volume of renewable fuels, calling for the nation's reliance to rise from 9.0 billion gallons in 2008 to 36 billion gallons in 2022. In addition, renewable fuels from new production facilities are required to reduce life cycle greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20 percent relative to life cycle emissions from gasoline and diesel.  On April 23, 2009, California adopted new standards to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from all of the state's transportation fuels by ten percent in 2020.

EPA's proposal will allow for public input on the first national policy to limit greenhouse gas emissions on a "life-cycle" basis.  EPA's proposed standards have important implications for renewable fuels, greenhouse gas emissions and the sustainability of transportation fuels production and use. Complete and accurate accounting for greenhouse gas emissions must be a cornerstone of climate and bioenergy policy.

In 2006, the nation consumed about 5 billion gallons of biofuels, primarily corn-based ethanol.   Total annual U.S. gasoline consumption is approximately 140 billion gallons.   The Energy Independence and Security Act requires the use of 36 billion gallons of biofuels in 2022, including 21 billion gallons of "advanced biofuels."  Biofuels generally include fuels produced from biological materials such as food crops, agricultural residues, and municipal wastes.