(491c) Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emission Estimates for Alternative Fuels: Responding to Requirements Under Section 526 of the Energy Independence and Security Act

Methods for cradle to grave (life cycle) environmental assessments of products have been under development for decades, however, it is only in the last decade that these methods have been used in environmental regulations. Specifically, Section 526 of the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 requires life-cycle evaluations of the greenhouse gas emissions of transportation fuels. This presentation will describe the challenges associated with making life cycle greenhouse gas emission estimates for regulatory applications, particularly focusing on aviation fuels. Given these difficulties and uncertainties, recommendations that have emerged from a variety of groups in applying life cycle methods in regulatory applications will be discussed.