How Has the RFS Evolved Over Time?

Since the inception of the ethanol mandate a decade ago, the United States has undergone an
energy transformation from a nation of energy dependence and scarcity to one of energy security
and abundance. It is well past time to reform outdated energy policies to reflect the energy realities
of today and tomorrow.

2005

Congress creates the RFS,
calling for 7.5 Billion
Gallons of biofuels by
2012 in the Energy Policy Act

2007

Congress revises the RFS in
the Energy Independence & Security Act

• Calls for 36 billion gallons by 2022
• The new “RFS2” created four nested biofuel categories:
  • Cellulosic
  • Advanced
  • Biomass-based Diesel
  • Renewable Fuel (corn ethanol)

2010

EPA promulgates RFS
rules waiving the
cellulosic standard

2011

EPA permits the use of E15
in 2001 and newer light-duty vehicles

2013

EPA issues volume
requirements that exceed
9.7% ethanol

2013

RIN market jumps
from under 5¢ to
over $1.00

2013

EPA proposes to waive the 2014
total volume requirement, but
doesn’t finalize the rule

2015

Refiners file lawsuit against
EPA a•er failing to issue rules
for 2014 and 2015

2015

Issues a multi-year rule acknowledging the
ethanol blendwall by waiving the overall
volume requirements in 2014, 2015 and 2016

2016

The ethanol lobby sues
EPA for using its waiver authority

2016

Bipartisan group in congress
introduces legislation to cap
the RFS to not more than 9.7%
ethanol in the gasoline market

2017

Court determines EPA did not use the appropriate waiver authority for 2016

2018

EPA is expected to trigger reset of the RFS and begins the process of rewriting statutory tables

2022

Statutory volumes end and EPA establishes volumetric targets based on broad set of environmental and economic factors