The U.S. General Accountability Office has issued a report that contends the Renewable Fuel Standard won’t lead to the projected cuts in greenhouse gases. The GAO also said it sees “limited potential” for expansion in cellulosic and other advanced biofuels by 2022.

“It is unlikely that the goals of the Renewable Fuel Standard — to reduce

greenhouse gas emissions and expand the nation’s renewable fuels sector while reducing reliance on imported oil — will be met as envisioned because there is limited production of advanced biofuels and limited potential for expanded production by 2022,” according to the Dec. 1 report. Because of that limited growth, “the RFS is unlikely to achieve the targeted level of greenhouse gas emissions reductions,” the GAO reported.

Iowa is the nation’s top producer of ethanol, and industry officials have assured federal officials they expect solid growth in the industry.

The GAO reported that the amount of cellulosic biofuel blended into the transportation fuel supply in 2015 was less than 5 percent of the federal target of 3 billion. GAO interviews found that the shortfall of advanced biofuels comes as a result of high production costs, and the agency reported it that “investments required to make these fuels more cost-competitive with petroleum-based fuels, even in the longer run, are unlikely in the current investment climate.”

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