EPA palm oil analysis draws support, criticism as comments close

Biodiesel Magazine
By Erin Voegele
April 26, 2012

The public comment period for the U.S. EPA’s palm oil pathway assessment under the renewable fuel standard (RFS2) closes April 27. As the deadline approaches, groups representing both sides of the issue are speaking out in an effort to sway the EPA’s final decision on the matter.

In January, the EPA published its Notice of Data Availability for renewable fuels produced with palm oil feedstock. In the NODA the agency noted its analysis determined that biodiesel and renewable diesel made from palm oil feedstock does not meet the 20 percent greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions required by RFS2 to qualify as renewable fuel. Data published by the EPA found palm oil biodiesel to have a GHG reduction rating of 17 percent. Alternatively, palm oil derived renewable diesel only had an 11 percent GHG reduction.

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