Approved Pathways for Renewable Fuel
Below is a list of approved fuel pathways under the RFS program. For a full description of the requirements for these pathways, see the RFS Regulations at 40 CFR part 80 subpart M.
Generally Applicable Pathways
| Fuel type | Feedstock | Production process requirements | D-Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A |
Ethanol |
Corn starch |
All of the following: |
6 (renewable) |
| B |
Ethanol |
Corn starch |
All of the following: |
6 (renewable) |
| C |
Ethanol |
Corn starch |
All of the following: |
6 (renewable) |
| D |
Ethanol |
Corn starch |
Wet mill process using biomass or biogas for process energy |
6 (renewable) |
| E |
Ethanol |
Starches from crop residue and annual covercrops |
Fermentation using natural gas, biomass, or biogas for process energy |
6 (renewable) |
| F |
Biodiesel, renewable diesel, jet fuel and heating oil. |
Soy bean oil; |
One of the following: |
4 (biomass-based diesel) |
| G |
Biodiesel, heating oil |
Canola/Rapeseed oil |
Trans-Esterification using natural gas or biomass for process energy |
4 (biomass-based diesel) |
| H |
Biodiesel, renewable diesel, jet fuel and heating oil |
Soybean oil; |
One of the following: |
5 (advanced) |
| I | Naphtha, LPG |
Camelina sativa oil; |
Hydrotreating | 5 (advanced) |
| J |
Ethanol |
Sugarcane |
Fermentation |
5 (advanced) |
| K |
Ethanol |
Crop residue, slash, pre-commercial thinnings and tree residue, switchgrass, miscanthus, energy cane, Arundo donax, Pennisetum purpureum, and separated yard waste; biogenic components of separated MSW; cellulosic components of separated food waste; and cellulosic components of annual covercrops. |
Any process that converts cellulosic biomass to fuel. |
3 (cellulosic biofuel) |
| L |
Cellulosic diesel, jet fuel and heating oil |
Crop residue, slash, pre-commercial thinnings and tree residue, switchgrass, miscanthus, energy cane, Arundo donax, Pennisetum purpureum, and separated yard waste; biogenic components of separated MSW; cellulosic components of separated food waste; and cellulosic components of annual covercrops. |
Any process that converts cellulosic biomass to fuel. |
7 (cellulosic biofuel or biomass-based diesel) |
| M | Renewable Gasoline and Renewable Gasoline Blendstock; Co-Processed Cellulosic Diesel, Jet Fuel and Heating Oil | Crop residue, slash, pre-commercial thinnings, tree residue, and separated yard waste; biogenic components of separated MSW; cellulosic components of separated food waste; and cellulosic components of annual cover crops. | Catalytic Pyrolysis and Upgrading, Gasification and Upgrading, Thermo-Catalytic Hydrodeoxygenation and Upgrading, Direct Biological Conversion, Biological Conversion and Upgrading utilizing natural gas, biogas, and/or biomass as the only process energy sources providing that process used converts cellulosic biomass to fuel; any process utilizing biogas and/or biomass as the only process energy sources which converts cellulosic biomass to fuel. | 3 (cellulosic biofuel) |
| N | Naphtha | Switchgrass, miscanthus, energy cane, Arundo donax, and Pennisetum purpureum | Gasification and upgrading processes that converts cellulosic biomass to fuel. | 3 (cellulosic biofuel) |
| O | Butanol |
Corn starch |
Fermentation; dry mill using natural gas, biomass, or biogas for process energy |
6 (renewable) |
| P |
Ethanol, renewable diesel, jet fuel, heating oil, and naphtha. |
The non-cellulosic portions of separated food waste and non-cellulosic components of annual cover crops. |
Any |
5 (advanced) |
| Q |
Renewable Compressed Natural Gas, Renewable Liquefied Natural Gas, Renewable Electricity. |
Biogas from landfills, municipal wastewater treatment facility digesters, agricultural digesters, and separated MSW digesters; and biogas from the cellulosic components of biomass processed in other waste digesters. |
Any |
3 (cellulosic biofuel) |
| R |
Ethanol |
Grain Sorghum |
Dry mill process using biogas from landfills, waste treatment plants, and/or waste digesters, and/or natural gas, for process energy |
6 (renewable) |
| S |
Ethanol |
Grain Sorghum |
Dry mill process, using only biogas from landfills, waste treatment plants, and/or waste digesters for process energy and for on-site production of all electricity used at the site other than up to 0.15 kWh of electricity from the grid per gallon of ethanol produced, calculated on a per batch basis |
5 (advanced) |
| T |
Renewable Compressed Natural Gas, Renewable Liquefied Natural Gas, and Renewable Electricity. |
Biogas from waste digesters | Any | 5 (advanced) |
| Corn oil fractionation that is applied to at least 90% of the corn used to produce ethanol on a calendar year basis. |
| Corn oil extraction that is applied to the whole stillage and/or derivatives of whole stillage and results in recovery of corn oil at an annual average rate equal to or greater than 1.33 pounds oil per bushel of corn processed into ethanol. |
| Membrane separation in which at least 90% of ethanol dehydration is carried out using a hydrophilic membrane on a calendar year basis. |
| Raw starch hydrolysis that is used for at least 90% of starch hydrolysis used to produce ethanol instead of hydrolysis using a traditional high heat cooking process, calculated on a calendar year basis. |
| Combined heat and power such that, on a calendar year basis, at least 90% of the thermal energy associated with ethanol production (including thermal energy produced at the facility and that which is derived from an off-site waste heat supplier), exclusive of any thermal energy used for the drying of distillers grains and solubles, is used to produce electricity prior to being used to meet the process heat requirements of the facility. |
You may need a PDF reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA’s About PDF page to learn more.
Completed Pathway Assessments
| EPA Determination | Fuel | Feedstock | D-Code | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLCP Steamboat Rock | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 09/16/2020 |
| FHR Shell Rock | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 07/22/2020 |
| Renewable Energy Group | Biodiesel Heating Oil | Cottonseed Oil | 4 | 07/20/2020 |
| GLCP Huron | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 07/13/2020 |
| Poet Shelbyville | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 06/15/2020 |
| San Joaquin Renewables | Compressed Natural Gas | Crop Residue | 3 | 5/11/2020 |
| East Kansas Agri-Energy (PDF)(70 pp, 1.5 MB, About PDF) | Naphtha | Distillers Corn Oil; Distillers Sorghum Oil | 5 | 12/19/2019 |
| REG Geismar (PDF)(70 pp, 1.5 MB, About PDF) | Naphtha, LPG | Commingled Distillers Corn Oil and Sorghum Oil | 5 | 12/19/2019 |
| Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 11/26/2019 |
| Texmark-Neste | Renewable Jet Fuel | Renewable Diesel | 4 | 9/23/2019 |
| Andersons Denison | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 03/21/2019 |
| Poet Groton | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 02/04/2019 |
| Andersons Clymers | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 10/24/2018 |
| National Sorghum Producers (PDF) (12 pp, 313 K) | Biodiesel, Renewable Diesel, Jet Fuel and Heating Oil | Distillers Sorghum Oil | 4/5 | 08/02/2018 |
| Butamax Advanced Biofuels (PDF) (12 pp, 313 K) | Biodiesel, Renewable Diesel, Jet Fuel and Heating Oil | Distillers Corn Oil | 4 | 08/02/2018 |
| Element Colwich | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 03/27/2018 |
| REG Geismar | Naphtha, LPG | Biogenic waste oils/fats/greases | 5 | 02/23/2018 |
| ABE Aberdeen | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 01/02/2018 |
| Big River Dyersville | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 11/29/2017 |
| Big River Galva | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 11/29/2017 |
| Dynamic Recycling, LLC | Ethanol | Waste industrial ethanol | 6 | 11/29/2017 |
| Absolute Saint Ansgar | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 11/14/2017 |
| Homeland Lawler | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 11/14/2017 |
| LSCP Marcus | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 10/24/2017 |
| Andersons Greenville | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 9/12/2017 |
| Al-Corn Claremont | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 8/15/2017 |
| Didion Cambria | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 5/9/2017 |
| REG Geismar | Naphtha, LPG | Non-Food Grade Corn Oil | 5 | 4/13/2017 |
| Poet Caro | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 03/13/2017 |
| Poet Corning | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 03/13/2017 |
| Poet Emmetsburg | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 03/13/2017 |
| Poet Gowrie | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 03/13/2017 |
| Poet Hanlontown | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 03/13/2017 |
| Poet Hudson | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 03/13/2017 |
| Poet Jewell | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 03/13/2017 |
| Gevo, Inc. | Butanol | Corn Starch and Grain Sorghum | 5 or 6 | 12/22/2016 |
Commonwealth Agri-Energy, LLC |
Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 12/15/2016 |
| Redfield Energy | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 10/27/2016 |
| Poet Lake Crystal | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 09/19/2016 |
| Green Plains Obion | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 07/27/2016 |
| Poet Alexandria | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 06/30/2016 |
| Poet Fostoria | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 06/30/2016 |
| Poet Leipsic | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 06/30/2016 |
| Poet Marion | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 06/30/2016 |
| Poet North Manchester | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 06/30/2016 |
| Poet Portland | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 06/30/2016 |
| Heartland Winthrop | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 05/19/2016 |
| Joule Unlimited Technologies, Inc. | Ethanol | Algae | 5 | 03/29/2016 |
| Green Plains Bluffton, LLC | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 03/16/2016 |
| Montana Advanced Biofuels, LLC | Ethanol | Barley Starch | 5 | 11/20/2015 |
| Kansas Ethanol, LLC | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 11/19/2015 |
| Corn LP | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 11/19/2015 |
| Andersons Albion | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 10/22/2015 |
| FHR Camilla | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 10/22/2015 |
| FHR Fairmont | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 10/22/2015 |
| FHR Iowa Falls | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 10/22/2015 |
| Valero Bloomingburg | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 9/22/2015 |
| Valero Albion | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 9/22/2015 |
| Valero Linden | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 9/22/2015 |
| Carbon Green Bioenergy Lake Odessa | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 9/24/2015 |
| Valero Albert City | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 8/20/2015 |
| Valero Charles City | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 6/29/2015 |
| Valero Aurora | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 6/29/2015 |
| OEE Gibson City | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 6/29/2015 |
| IBEC | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 6/29/2015 |
| Adkins Lena | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 6/29/2015 |
| East Kansas Agri-Energy, LLC | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 6/24/2015 |
| NuGen Marion | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 6/15/2015 |
| Poet Laddonia | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 6/15/2015 |
| REF Onida | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 6/15/2015 |
| Bushmills Atwater | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 5/13/2015 |
| GLE Watertown | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 5/13/2015 |
| Aberdeen Energy | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 5/13/2015 |
| Granite Falls | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 5/13/2015 |
| Kansas Ethanol Lyons | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 5/13/2015 |
| SME Carrollton | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 5/13/2015 |
| Valero Hartley | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 5/13/2015 |
| WNYE Medina | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 5/13/2015 |
| ENVIA Energy, LLC | Diesel, Naphtha | Landfill Biogas | 3 or 7 | 5/8/2015 |
| Heron Lake Bioenergy, LLC | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 3/12/2015 |
| United Wisconsin Grain Producers, LLC | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 3/12/2015 |
| Guardian Lima, LLC | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 3/12/2015 |
| Mid-Missouri Energy, LLC | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 3/12/2015 |
| Green Plains Atkinson | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 3/12/2015 |
| Badger State Ethanol, LLC | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 1/29/2015 |
| Green Plains Ord, LLC | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 1/29/2015 |
| Lincolnland Agri-Energy, LLC | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 1/29/2015 |
| Tharaldson Ethanol Plant 1, LLC | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 1/29/2015 |
| Dakota Ethanol, LLC | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 1/29/2015 |
| Green Plains Shenandoah, LLC | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 1/29/2015 |
| Lincolnway Energy, LLC | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 1/29/2015 |
| Farmers Energy Cardinal, LLC | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 1/29/2015 |
| Highwater Ethanol, LLC | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 1/29/2015 |
| Quad County Corn Processors | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 1/29/2015 |
| Algenol Biofuels, Inc. | Ethanol | Algae | 5 | 12/2/2014 |
| Cardinal Union City | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 11/26/2014 |
| CHS Rochelle | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 11/26/2014 |
| Husker Plainview | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 11/26/2014 |
| LSCP Marcus | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 11/26/2014 |
| NuGen Marion | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 11/26/2014 |
| Patriot Annawan | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 11/26/2014 |
| Red Trail Richardton | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 11/26/2014 |
| Siouxland Jackson | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 11/26/2014 |
| Marquis Energy Hennepin | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 11/13/2014 |
| Oberon | Dimethyl ether | Biogas from waste digesters | 3 or 5 | 8/12/2014 |
| Edeniq (PDF)(41 pp, 603 K) | Ethanol | Crop residue (corn kernel fiber) | 3 | 7/18/2014 |
| Element Markets (PDF)(41 pp, 603 K) | Renewable Compressed Natural Gas | Biogas from waste digesters | 3 or 5 | 7/18/2014 |
| DriveGreen (PDF)(41 pp, 603 K) | Renewable Electricity | Biogas from waste digesters | 3 or 5 | 7/18/2014 |
| E-Energy Adams | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 3/6/2014 |
| 11 Good Energy | Fatty Acid Ethyl Ester | Soybean Oil | 5 | 1/10/2014 |
| Marquis Renewable Energy-Wisconsin | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 11/27/2013 |
| Valero Fort Dodge | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 11/7/2013 |
| Guardian Energy | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 11/7/2013 |
| Diamond Green Diesel, LLC | Naphtha, LPG | Non-food grade corn oil | 5 | 10/28/2013 |
| Valero Welcome | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 7/17/2013 |
| Hankinson Renewable Energy, LLC | Ethanol | Corn Starch | 6 | 7/17/2013 |
| Chemtex Group (PDF)(14 pp, 308 K) | Cellulosic Biofuel | New (Arundo donax) | 3 or 7 | 7/11/2013 |
| BP Biofuels North America, LLC (PDF)(28 pp, 2.89 MB) | Ethanol, cellulosic diesel, jet fuel and heating oil; naphtha | Energy cane and Napier grass | 3 or 7 | 3/5/2013 |
| Kior, Inc. (PDF)(28 pp, 2.89 MB) | Renewable gasoline and renewable gasoline blendstock | Cellulosic biomass from crop residue, slash, pre-commercial thinnings, tree residue, annual cover crops; cellulosic components of separated yard waste; cellulosic components of separated food waste; and cellulosic components of separated MSW | 3 | 3/5/2013 |
| Sundrop Fuels, Inc. (PDF)(28 pp, 2.89 MB) | Renewable gasoline and renewable gasoline blendstock | Cellulosic biomass from crop residue, slash, pre-commercial thinnings, tree residue, annual cover crops; cellulosic components of separated yard waste; cellulosic components of separated food waste; and cellulosic components of separated MSW | 3 | 3/5/2013 |
| Terrabon, Inc. (PDF)(28 pp, 2.89 MB) | Renewable gasoline and renewable gasoline blendstock | Cellulosic biomass from crop residue, slash, pre-commercial thinnings, tree residue, annual cover crops; cellulosic components of separated yard waste; cellulosic components of separated food waste; and cellulosic components of separated MSW | 3 | 3/5/2013 |
| Sustainable Oils (PDF)(28 pp, 2.89 MB) | Biodiesel, renewable diesel, jet fuel, heating oil, naphtha, LPG | Camelina sativa oil | 4 or 5 | 3/5/2013 |
| Dakota Spirit AgEnergy, LLC | Ethanol | Corn starch | 6 | 2/6/2013 |
| Absolute Energy, LLC | Ethanol | Corn starch | 6 | 2/6/2013 |
| Western Plains | Ethanol | Grain sorghum | 5 | 1/11/2013 |
| Sabine Biofuels II, LLC | Biodiesel | Biogenic waste oils/fats/greases | 4 | 9/26/2012 |
| High Plains Bioenergy, LLC | Biodiesel | Biogenic waste oils/fats/greases | 4 | 2/17/2012 |
| Viesel Fuel, LLC | Renewable diesel | Soybean oil; Oil from annual cover crops; Algal oil; Biogenic waste oils/fats/greases; Non-food grade corn oil | 4 | 9/29/2011 |
| Changing World Technologies, Inc. | Renewable diesel | Biogenic waste oils/fats/grease | 4 | 6/10/2011 |
| Endicott Biofuels, LLC | Biodiesel | Soybean oil; Oil from annual cover crops; Algal oil; Biogenic waste oils/fats/greases; Non-food grade corn oil | 4 | 4/6/2011 |
| Global Energy Resources | Renewable diesel | Soybean oil; Oil from annual cover crops; Algal oil; Biogenic waste oils/fats/greases; Non-food grade corn oil | 4 | 4/6/2011 |
| Triton Energy, LLC | Renewable diesel | Soybean oil; Oil from annual cover crops; Algal oil; Biogenic waste oils/fats/greases; Non-food grade corn oil | 4 | 12/10/2010 |
(See determination approval documents for more information about approved pathways)