The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency may soon publish new renewable fuels standard rules that include how to best calculate the greenhouse gas emissions from ethanol and other biofuels, according to Prairie Farmer.

The U.S. Office of Management and Budget is reviewing the rule, which could penalize corn-based ethanol producers for so-called international indirect land use change -- or the planting of crops in other countries to compensate for the use of more corn acres in the U.S. for expanded ethanol production.

The Renewable Fuel Standard requires the production of 36 billion gallons of ethanol and other fuels by 2022.

Grain-based ethanol is required to produce 20 percent less greenhouse gas emissions compared to gasoline, while cellulosic ethanol and other advanced biofuels would be required to have 60 percent and 50 percent less than fossil gasoline, respectively.

(Prairie Farmer, Dec. 28, 2009)

(http://prairiefarmer.com/…)

DTN: Renewable Fuels Association President Bob Dinneen told DTN in a recent interview that there is a disconnect between the Obama Administration and agencies such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency when it comes to the future of renewable energy. That is, Obama has repeatedly stated his support for ethanol and advanced biofuels. On the other hand, recently EPA has made life difficult on ethanol with the proposed low carbon fuel standard and the delay on a move to E15. In addition, Dinneen said cellulosic ethanol developers are growing increasingly frustrated by the U.S. Department of Energy's loan guarantee program. He said program rules are difficult to navigate and not necessarily designed for cellulosic ethanol. Very few companies are actually receiving the guarantees. (Todd Neeley)