Living up to Standards: Transportation Emissions and the Renewable Fuel Standards

In this column for Dollars & Sense, Garrett-Peltier describes the Renewable Fuel Standard, which was established under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 and revised in 2010 to help make the shift toward petroleum alternatives. This revised standard, known as RFS2, could offer some hope for a real shift in the fuel consumption patterns of the transportation sector. It mandates large increases in biofuels, which are required to have emissions of greenhouse gases 20% to 60% below that of gasoline. But, she asks, how much authentic progress has been made since 2007 and what is the promise that the RFS2 will bring about a genuine reduction in U.S. emissions of greenhouse gases and dependence on imported oil?