EPA Increases Biodiesel Mandate

EPA boosts biofuels target amid oil-and-gas industry resistance

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Friday raised biofuels targets for 2013 despite an ongoing legal battle with the oil-and-gas industry on the issue.

Refiners will be required to blend 1.28 billion gallons of biodiesel — which EPA includes in its definition of “advanced” biofuels — into traditional transportation fuel in 2013, up from 1 billion gallons this year.

“This action, which meets goals designated by Congress, is another step that strengthens America’s energy security by reducing dependence on foreign oil,” EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said Friday in a statement. …

“Over the past three years, we have doubled generation from renewable energy and today’s announcement by EPA will ensure that we are continuing to utilize biodiesel to help meet our energy needs, create jobs and strengthen the rural economy,” [Agriculture Secretary Tom] Vilsack said.

I'm already on record previously as abhorring the gasohol requirements; the biodiesel requirement is more of the same.  I was going to rant on all the stupid reasons why, but Erika Johnsen at HotAir aleady took care of that:

How many different examples of the unintended consequences of propping up the biofuels industry do we need before the federal government will admit that they’re wrong? Let’s see. Mandated biofuel quotas (the majority of the market for which is comprised of corn-based ethanol): 1) Produce questionable-to-negative environmental benefits, most notably because they encourage farmers to bring marginal land into production, which in turn stresses the water supply, increases pesticide use, and incentivizes people to chop down forests; 2) Cannot actually survive on their own in the marketplace because they’re more expensive and less efficient — hence why the federal government must mandate their usage — which drives up fuel prices and eats into Americans’ disposable income; and 3) Incentivize farmers to grow corn-for-fuel instead of corn-for-food, which can help drive up food prices, further cutting in on people’s disposable incomes. To name a few.

The only reason they can get away with this at all is that the Navy is supporting this bad idea by buying large amounts of biodiesel at inflated prices.  Without that support, the model would never fly.  One reason sequestration might be beneficial to the military. They might actually have to stop and think about what to spend money on