OREANDA-NEWS. November 25, 2013. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the US published a proposal covering renewable fuel mandates for 2014.

The EPA proposes retaining the biomass-based diesel mandate at the 2013 level and reducing total renewable fuel mandates by 8% compared to this year's level.

Neste Oil sells NExBTL renewable diesel to customers in the US, where NExBTL meets the requirements of an advanced biofuel in the biomass-based diesel category. NExBTL renewable diesel is an ideal low-carbon fuel for US refiners, blenders, and fuel distributors to meet their renewable fuel standard obligations, as it is fully compatible with existing fuel distribution systems.

The EPA announcement will be followed by a 60-day public comment period, during which the EPA will seek comments from stakeholders. The EPA has specifically requested additional comments on the proposed biomass-based diesel mandate.

View of Neste Oil and the advanced biofuels industry is that during 2013 the industry has proved its capability to deliver growing volumes of advanced biofuels, and biomass-based diesel in particular, to the US market. Therefore, Neste Oil favors higher 2014 mandates for advanced biofuels than now proposed, as this would support further research and investment in this area.