The EPA is expected to announce rules for the RFS-2 by the end of January.  If you plan to participate, there’s only one place you can learn how the new RFS program will work…the 2010 National Biodiesel Conference in Dallas-Fort Worth.

Administration and compliance issues of the RFS-2 program will be complex.  And if you intend to participate in the U.S. biodiesel market in any way in 2010, you will have to understand the details of this program. 

For the first time, we are offering the opportunity for you and a friend or colleague to gain all the benefits – including all RFS-2 education and training seminars – at half the normal price.

Sign up today. You cannot afford to miss this one-time only to learn from the EPA and other experts on how to navigate the RFS-2 – a  program that is expected to produce as much as 900 million gallons of biodiesel sales in 2010.

Don’t get left behind. See you in Dallas!

Joe Jobe, CEO
National Biodiesel Board

The US EPA, under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, is responsible for revising and implementing regulations to ensure that petroleum fuels sold in the United States contain a minimum volume of renewable fuel. It is expected that the rules for this program will be released in January, and the program will begin in 2010.  This program, termed the Renewable Fuel Standard 2 (RFS2), will increase the volume of renewable fuel required to be blended into petroleum fuels from 9 billion gallons in 2008 to 36 billion gallons by 2022.  The RFS 2 is an expansion of the original RFS program.

Under the RFS2, biodiesel will be given a specific carve out in the renewable fuels pool.   Biodiesel will qualify for the biomass-based diesel category, which ramps up from 500 million gallon requirement in 2009 to 1 billion gallons by 2012.  Because of the delayed implementation of the program, the EPA will be combining the 2009 and 2010 requirements in calendar year 2010.   Depending on variables such as carry-over allowances and transition rules, this is expected to create between 750 million and 1 billion gallons of domestic consumption of biodiesel in calendar year 2010.  The program calls for an 800 million gallon minimum requirement for 2011.

With the expected release of the RFS2 by the end of this month, it is imperative that you attend the National Biodiesel Board’s annual conference in Grapevine, Texas February 7-10, 2010 to learn how these new rules will affect you.  At the conference you can expect to be the first to:

• Learn about the expansion of the program and the creation of new obligated parties.  Under the original RFS select entities involved in fuel distribution were require to perform specific actions at the risk of paying $32,500 per day in non-compliance penalties. These rules will change under the RFS2, and parties need to be aware of their obligations.

• The Renewable Identification Number (RIN) has not only become a cornerstone of compliance but also an instrument for financial gain.  As the rules change, parties that could not profit before have the opportunity to profit today. Experts in RIN compliance and financial markets will present the changes under the RFS2.

• Learn how RINs are generated, separated, validated, tracked, traded, and retired.  Hear from industry experts about national and regional markets that are expected to emerge.

• Learn about new certification requirements for biodiesel production facilities, and registration requirements for tracking and trading RINS.

• The RFS2 establishes precedent on green house gas emission profiles for feedstocks and details the needs for green house gas reporting for future feedstocks. As mandates are written centered around feedstock sources, the RFS2 rules will affect pricing and product availability. 

• As biodiesel becomes a larger part of the distillate market, private industry is investing funds to handle increased biodiesel use in the future.  Original Equipment Manufacturers are slated to discuss the role of biodiesel in future equipment production.