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ARTICLE · 15 JULY 2014

EPA’s Revised Renewable Fuels Standard Creates New Markets For Old "Waste"

McGuireWoods LLP
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The EPA finalized a rule that is likely to substantially increase production of certain kinds of valuable renewable fuels.

United StatesEnvironment
Bernadette Rappold
Bernadette Rappold
Douglas Lamb
Douglas Lamb
Dale Mullen
Dale Mullen

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a rule that is likely to substantially increase production of certain kinds of valuable renewable fuels and create new markets for materials previously regarded as waste. Several of the key changes adopt comments submitted by McGuireWoods LLP on behalf of clients.

Signed July 2, 2014, EPA's new rule − Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: RFS Pathways II, and Technical Amendments to the RFS Standards and E15 Misfueling Mitigation Requirements − allows renewable fuels and electricity produced from biogas from landfills, wastewater treatment sludge and animal manure to generate "cellulosic" renewable fuel credits, the most valuable form of the credits known as "renewable identification numbers" (RINs), which are publicly traded on an EPA-moderated exchange. The rule will become effective 30 days after its publication in the Federal Register. (Publication typically occurs within a few days or weeks after

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