Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: Renewable Fuel Standard ...

Table VIII.B.1-2
Annual Emissions Nationwide From Onroad Diesels in 2012 (tons per year)
Reference Inventory:
Change in Emissions Inventory:
28 mill gal biodiesel per year 300 mill gal biodiesel per year
VOC 135,000 -800
NOx 1,430,000 800
CO 353,000 -1,100
Fine PM 27,000 -100
As can be seen, the emission impacts due to biodiesel use are roughly two orders
of magnitude smaller than those due to ethanol use.
There will also be some increases in emissions due to ethanol and biodiesel
production. Table VIII.B.1-3 shows estimates of annual emissions expected to occur
nationwide due to increased production of ethanol. These estimates include a reduction
in emissions related to the distribution of the displaced gasoline.
Reference
Table VIII.B.1-3
Annual Emissions Nationwide from Ethanol
Production and Transportation (tons per year)
Increase in Emissions
Inventory 7.2 Billion gallons of ethanol 9.6 Billion gallons of ethanol
VOC 15,929 12,744 22,301
NOx 47,716 38,173 66,802
CO 19,389 15,511 27,144
PM10 27,094 21,675 37,931
SOx 31,760 25,408 44,464
As can be seen, the potential increases in emissions from ethanol production and
transportation are of the same order of magnitude as those from ethanol use, with the
exception of CO emissions. The vast majority of these emissions are related to farming
and ethanol production. Both farms and ethanol plants are generally located in ozone
attainment areas.
Table VIII.B.1-4 shows estimates of annual emissions expected to occur
nationwide due to increased production of biodiesel. These estimates include a reduction
in emissions related to the distribution of the displaced diesel fuel.
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