By CFDC’s Douglas Durante, Biofuels Digest —
The Clean Fuels Development Coalition is a member of the High Octane Low Carbon Alliance, a new campaign to have EPA and the Department of Transportation look beyond just vehicle technology and recognize the role of fuels in meeting future requirements for increased mileage and lower CO2 emissions. In establishing what are clearly aggressive standards the agencies have limited their review of the program and not included an accurate assessment of how fuels and vehicles need to be viewed as an integrated system. Ethanol blends in the 25-40% volume range have been endorsed by automakers and the Department of Energy as having the ability to provide high octane allowing for compression adjustments that can significantly improve efficiency and reduce carbon. The Alliance is led by former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and includes the Renewable Fuels Association, the National Corn Growers Association, the Fuel Freedom Foundation, and others.
The final standards will be issued by EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the Department of Transportation. A mid-term review that had previously determined the standards were still appropriate has been pulled back by the Trump Administration and according to CFDC will now allow for a more comprehensive and thorough review.
A recent editorial on this development by CFDC’s Doug Durante explains this process and the opportunity it presents.