Energy Tomorrow Blog

On Cellulosic Ethanol, Hope Still Outpacing Reality

cellulosic ethanol  consumers  renewable fuel standard  epa 

Dean Foreman
Posted December 11, 2018

As debates continue over the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and its ethanol mandates, let’s remember that when the RFS was enacted more than a decade ago it was supposed to jumpstart a commercially viable cellulosic ethanol industry – ethanol made from the leaves, stems and other fibrous parts of a plant.

This has not happened. Far from it. Despite increased mandates under the RFS for cellulosic ethanol, those mandates have dwarfed actual production. The result is a costly proposition for American consumers and an object lesson on what can happen when government tries to use policy to favor a certain technology. Let’s explore the issue.

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Energy Path Turns on Infrastructure Needs, Policy Choices

news  pipelines  infrastructure  oil and natural gas development  epa  regulation  lng exports  cellulosic ethanol 

Mark Green
Posted May 21, 2015

Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Weinstein): Thanks to what’s sometimes called the “shale revolution,” America has re-emerged as an energy superpower.

Even with prices 40 percent lower than a year ago, we remain the world’s No. 1 producer of crude oil and other liquid hydrocarbons. Imports of oil have dropped from 60 percent of consumption to about 35 percent just in the past five years. We’re also the world’s largest producer of natural gas.

Both our oil and natural gas output would be even higher if not for regulatory and infrastructure constraints.

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Phantom Fuels Rise Again

cellulosic ethanol  renewable fuel standard  epa 

Bob Greco
Posted August 12, 2013

The EPA just can’t seem to deal with reality. Disregarding both experience and evidence, the agency chose to once again mandate a phantom fuel: cellulosic biofuel. Instead of setting fuel requirements at a realistic volume, as directed by Congress and a court order, the EPA ordered the use of 4 million gallons of cellulosic biofuel this year, even though it has yet to be produced in commercial volumes.

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Questions Linger on RFS, Cellulosic Biofuel Mandate

regulation  ethanol  energy policy  cellulosic ethanol  cellulosic biofuels  biofuels 

Bob Greco
Posted December 21, 2012

Nearing the end of the 2012 it’s worth noting that some things about the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) haven’t changed: Commercially available cellulosic biofuel still isn’t being produced, and the nation’s refiners still don’t know how much biofuel they’ll have to blend next year under the RFS mandate. Other than that, no worries, right?

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Repeal the RFS

rfs34  regulation  epa  energy policy  domestic energy  cellulosic ethanol 

Mark Green
Posted November 27, 2012

End it, don’t mend it: That’s industry’s message to Congress on the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). API Downstream Group Director Bob Greco, during a conference call with reporters on problems with the program

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Fix the Renewable Fuels Standard

ethanol  epa  e15  e10  cellulosic ethanol  biodiesel  rfs34  e10 blend wall 

Mark Green
Posted July 12, 2012

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Does EPA Have the Authority to Levy Taxes?

congress  energy policy  environmental protection agency  epa  ethanol  fuel  fuel blends  gasoline  over regulation  cellulosic ethanol 

Jane Van Ryan
Posted December 27, 2010

Did you know that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the authority to levy taxes? If you're scratching your head over this tidbit of information, you're not alone. 

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