EPA Publishes Final Rule on Canola Oil Fuel Pathways

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published its final rule on canola oil fuel pathways, according to Biodiesel magazine.  Published under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for renewable diesel, jet fuel, naphtha, liquified petroleum gas (LPG) and heating oil produced via a hydrotreating process, the publication of the final rule followed EPA’s proposed rule in April to establish the pathways, the report said.
In the rule, these fuel pathways met the lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction threshold of 50% required to generate D4 biomass-based diesel and D5 advanced biofuel renewable identification numbers (RINs) under the RFS.  Based on the decision, the agency said it was adding the canola oil fuel pathways to the list of approved pathways in the RFS regulations, making them eligible to generate RINs.  The rule amends RFS regulations by adding a new definition of ‘canola/rapeseed oil’.
Under the rule, renewable diesel, jet fuel and heating oil produced with canola are eligible to generate D4 RINs if they are produced through a hydrotreating process that does not co-process renewable biomass and petroleum, and for D5 RINs if they are produced through a process that does co-process renewable biomass and petroleum. Naphtha and LPG production from canola oil using a hydrotreating process are also eligible to general D5 RINs.