The 2007 Renewable Fuel Standard

The 2007 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) aims to reduce global warming pollution from U.S. transportation fuels by mandating renewable fuel use and requiring life-cycle carbon reductions for new facilities. While it targets a reduction of 6 percent in pollution from cars and light trucks by 2022, the Union of Concerned Scientists warns that a loophole exempting most corn ethanol and the lack of regulation for other fossil fuels could negate these benefits. The document advocates for a low-carbon fuel standard to regulate the entire fuel market.

• The 2007 RFS has the potential to displace approximately 15 percent of projected U.S. gasoline consumption and reduce global warming pollution from cars and light trucks by as much as 6 percent by 2022, avoiding roughly 100 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually.
• To be classified as 'renewable' under the 2007 RFS, fuels from new facilities must achieve a life-cycle reduction in global warming pollution of at least 20 percent. Specific targets for 2015 include 36 billion gallons of renewable fuels, with limits on corn ethanol (15 billion gallons) and requirements for higher reductions from cellulosic ethanol (60 percent), as well as advanced ethanol and biodiesel (50 percent).
• A significant loophole exists because fuels from facilities existing or under construction before the 2007 energy bill are not required to reduce carbon emissions, which could cover over 80 percent of the corn ethanol allowed under the RFS. This exemption, combined with indirect land-use changes, could increase pollution by 5 percent by 2022, potentially wiping out most of the benefits of regulated fuels.
• The RFS is considered an incomplete first step because it does not regulate global warming pollution from existing biofuel production, gasoline, or other fuels like tar sands and 'liquid coal'. The document argues that a low-carbon fuel standard is necessary to regulate the entire fuel market on an average and energy-equivalent basis.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2008). The 2007 Renewable Fuel Standard. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-10/Renewable-Fuel-Standard-factsheet.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. The 2007 Renewable Fuel Standard. 2008. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-10/Renewable-Fuel-Standard-factsheet.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=The 2007 Renewable Fuel Standard |date=October 2008 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-10/Renewable-Fuel-Standard-factsheet.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists20082007, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{The 2007 Renewable Fuel Standard}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2008}, month = oct, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-10/Renewable-Fuel-Standard-factsheet.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }