House committee releases white paper on RFS review

WASHINGTON, March 21, 2013 – The House Committee on Energy and Commerce released March 20 the first in a series of white papers that will serve as the first step in its review of the renewable fuel standard (RFS).

The committee said the first white paper addresses the so-called blend wall and fuel compatibility issues. Four subsequent white papers will address other economic, environmental, and policy issues.

“The blend wall is approaching much faster than anticipated,” the paper said. “The targets in the RFS may soon necessitate that more than 10 percent [of ethanol] be added to the gasoline supply.”

The committee noted that it has been more than five years since the RFS was last revised, and “we now have a wealth of actual implementation experience with it.”

“In some respects, the RFS has unfolded as expected, but in others it has not,” the committee said. “Several implementation challenges have emerged that received little if any consideration prior to passage of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Furthermore, the overall energy landscape has changed since 2007. It is time to undertake an assessment of the RFS.”

Each paper will pose questions to solicit input from interested stakeholders.

To view the paper, visit http://energycommerce.house.gov/content/white-paper-series-on-renewable-fuel-standard

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