The percentage standards applicable under RFS are intended to be met with ethanol-equivalent volumes of renewable fuel. As a result, a gallon of ethanol counts as one gallon of renewable fuel for purposes of compliance with the four percentage standards, while a gallon of other types of biofuels may count as more than an ethanol gallon for compliance purposes, depending on its energy content as compared to ethanol.

The use of renewable fuels with higher energy content than ethanol will reduce the physical volume needed to meet the standards since they will generate more than one RIN for each physical gallon produced. A list of equivalence values as well as how to apply for a new equivalence value is described at §80.1415.