Trouble for the Renewable Fuels Standard?

The Energy Independence and Security  Act of 2007 includes a renewable fuels standard requiring fuel refiners to blend an increasing amount of advanced biofuels into their gasoline and diesel fuel stocks. In 2011, the Act mandated the blending of 6.6 million gallons of cellulosic biofuels. However, sufficient cellulosic fuels were not available to refiners for purchase and use. Refiners are now being fined for failing to meet the quota. [New York Times] The Times characterized this situation as an example of “what happens when the federal government really, really wants something that technology is not ready to provide.” Through loan… [more]