Carbon Counts in the 2007 Renewable Fuel Standard

The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) included in the 2007 energy bill is a key first step toward reducing global warming pollution from our nation’s transportation fuels. By setting standards for renewable fuels, the RFS has the potential to lower global warming pollution from cars and light trucks as much as 6 percent in 2022, while displacing about 15 percent of projected U.S. gasoline consumption. However, because the RFS does not regulate global warming pollution from existing biofuel production, gasoline, or other fuels in the transportation fuel market, it is only a first step. To protect the benefits of the RFS and build on them, we need a more comprehensive approach that covers all transportation fuels, such as a low-carbon fuel standard.