National Cottonseed Products
Association
Cottonseed Oil &
the Renewable Fuel Standard
RFS2 Background/History
Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS)
 The Energy Independence & Security Act (EISA) of 2007 expanded
the RFS to 36 billion gallons beginning in 2009 through 2022.
 Creates minimum use requirements for the following classes of
renewable fuels:
o Conventional Biofuels
o Advanced Biofuels
- Cellulosic Biofuels
- Biomass-Based Diesel (including biodiesel)
- Undifferentiated Advanced Biofuels (including biodiesel)
RFS2 Schedule
Volume
in billions Conventional Advanced
Year of gallons
Biofuels
Biofuels
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Undifferentiated
Cellulosic Biomass-Based
Advanced
Total Biodiesel
Biofuels
Diesel
Biofuels
Potential
(Biodiesel)
(Biodiesel)
(Biodiesel)
4.000
4.000
4.700
4.700
8.500
8.500
11.100
10.500
0.600
0.500
0.100
12.950
12.000
0.950
0.100
0.650
0.200
13.950
12.600
1.350
0.250
0.800
0.300
15.200
13.200
2.000
0.500
1.000
0.500
16.550
13.800
2.750
1.000
≥1.000*
0.750
18.150
14.400
3.750
1.750
≥1.000*
1.000
20.500
15.000
5.500
3.000
≥1.000*
1.500
22.250
15.000
7.250
4.250
≥1.000*
2.000
24.000
15.000
9.000
5.500
≥1.000*
2.500
26.000
15.000
11.000
7.000
≥1.000*
3.000
28.000
15.000
13.000
8.500
≥1.000*
3.500
30.000
15.000
15.000
10.500
≥1.000*
3.500
33.000
15.000
18.000
13.500
≥1.000*
3.500
36.000
15.000
21.000
16.000
≥1.000*
4.000
* Secretary determines minimum use allocation for "biomass-based diesel"
0.600
0.850
1.100
1.500
1.750
2.000
2.500
3.000
3.500
4.000
4.500
4.500
4.500
5.000
RFS2 Background
 Biodiesel must be from renewable biomass and have
lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions, including direct
and indirect (such as land use change) emissions, at
least 50% less than petroleum.
December 2007 - EISA passed
January 1, 2009 – Date it was supposed to be effective
May 2009 - EPA issued Proposed Rule
February 2010 – EPA issued Final Rule
July 1, 2010 – RFS2 program went into effect
RFS2 Background
 EPA Final Rule biodiesel eligibility was confined to soybean
oil and waste grease
 EPA used a range and median score to accommodate
uncertainty around indirect land use change
 Other feedstocks required to petition EPA for eligibility and
undergo a separate Life-Cycle Analysis (LCA)
 Canola oil was first additional feedstock to be approved;
Canola LCA was 50.5%
 Palm oil still pending; initial LCA was 17%
Cottonseed Status
 NCPA petition submitted to EPA in November 2011
 Petition, as required, includes information on:
o production, processing, and uses of cottonseed
oil, meal, hulls, and linters
o supply & demand for cotton & cottonseed
products
o biodiesel production from cottonseed oil
o land use impacts, or lack thereof, of cottonseed
biodiesel
Cottonseed Status
 Recent Action: additional data requested,
comments provided on EPA assumptions; EPA
modifying models
 Next steps: meeting on assumptions, run models,
preview results, NODA issued w/ 60 or 90 day
comment period, submit comments, final rule.
 Enviro Groups: Canola experience and camelina
Outlook
Timeline for completion:
June – EPA completes model runs, shares results,
publishes NODA with 60 or 90 day comment period.
August/September - comment period closes
November/December – Final Rule issued