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WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a decision to allow canola to be used as a feedstock for renewable diesel, which National Farmers Union (NFU) has advocated for.
“This administration gets it – biofuels are good for the environment, good for the farmer’s bottom line, and reduce costs at the pump for consumers,” said NFU President Rob Larew. “This announcement provides additional market opportunities and much-needed regulatory certainty for our farmers.”
An audio version of this quote can be found here.
Background:
In the United States, canola is mostly grown in the northern Great Plains, but can be grown as a spring or winter crop throughout the United States, including in the Pacific Northwest, the southern Great Plains, and in the southeast. Canola improves farm economics and supports sustainable agricultural production. Canola production in the U.S. can be increased without land use impacts, as farmers continue to improve yields and can grow canola as a rotational crop, which increases crop diversity, improves soil health, and can serve as weed management. Canola oil is a commercially viable feedstock currently used for U.S. biodiesel production.
Renewable diesel production has grown significantly in recent years with substantial planned investments that can increase U.S. production to around five billion gallons by 2025. Renewable feedstock will be needed to meet this increasing demand. While some of the renewable diesel facilities are or will be in states that have canola production, canola oil has not been utilized by U.S. renewable diesel producers due to the lack of an approved RFS pathway.
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