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National Cottonseed Products Association. Cottonseed Oil & the Renewable Fuel Standard. RFS2 Background/History. Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) The Energy Independence & Security Act (EISA) of 2007 expanded the RFS to 36 billion gallons beginning in 2009 through 2022.
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National Cottonseed Products Association Cottonseed Oil & the Renewable Fuel Standard
RFS2 Background/History Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) • The Energy Independence & Security Act (EISA) of 2007 expanded the RFS to 36 billion gallons beginning in 2009 through 2022. • Creates minimum use requirements for the following classes of renewable fuels: • Conventional Biofuels • Advanced Biofuels - Cellulosic Biofuels - Biomass-Based Diesel (including biodiesel) - Undifferentiated Advanced Biofuels (including biodiesel)
RFS2 Background • Biodiesel must be from renewable biomass and have lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions, including direct and indirect (such as land use change) emissions, at least 50% less than petroleum. December 2007 - EISA passed January 1, 2009 – Date it was supposedto be effective May 2009 - EPA issued Proposed Rule February 2010 – EPA issued Final Rule July 1, 2010 – RFS2 program went into effect
RFS2 Background • EPA Final Rule biodiesel eligibility was confined to soybean oil and waste grease • EPA used a range and median score to accommodate uncertainty around indirect land use change • Other feedstocks required to petition EPA for eligibility and undergo a separate Life-Cycle Analysis (LCA) • Canola oil was first additional feedstock to be approved; Canola LCA was 50.5% • Palm oil still pending; initial LCA was 17%
Cottonseed Status • NCPA petition submitted to EPA in November 2011 • Petition, as required, includes information on: • production, processing, and uses of cottonseed oil, meal, hulls, and linters • supply & demand for cotton & cottonseed products • biodiesel production from cottonseed oil • land use impacts, or lack thereof, of cottonseed biodiesel
Cottonseed Status • Recent Action: additional data requested, comments provided on EPA assumptions; EPA modifying models • Next steps: meeting on assumptions, run models, preview results, NODA issued w/ 60 or 90 day comment period, submit comments, final rule. • Enviro Groups: Canola experience and camelina
Outlook Timeline for completion: June – EPA completes model runs, shares results, publishes NODA with 60 or 90 day comment period. August/September - comment period closes November/December – Final Rule issued