Degree Type
Honors Capstone Project
Date of Submission
Spring 5-1-2019
Capstone Advisor
Thomas Barkley
Honors Reader
Peter Wilcoxen
Capstone Major
Finance
Capstone College
Management
Audio/Visual Component
no
Capstone Prize Winner
yes
Won Capstone Funding
no
Honors Categories
Professional
Subject Categories
Business | Finance and Financial Management
Abstract
Persistent uncertainty about the future of the Renewable Fuel Standard led to an analysis of the policy’s language and the varying degrees of political support for the program in the Senate. Applying probabilities to the various conceived scenarios resulted in a 40% change that the program continues in its current form in perpetuity. The report finds that a Democratic Congress would implement legislation that focuses on the policy’s missed environmental goals. Conversely, a Republican Congress would lead to the most uncertainty in the market due to competing views of the RFS within the program. With a narrow Republican majority, legislation that limits ethanol and advances the environmental goals could be achieved as a compromise between the two parties. As a hedge against federal regulatory uncertainty, state and local incentives for biodiesel are considered. Las Vegas, Nevada emerges as a top destination for a biodiesel producer.
Recommended Citation
Urban, Jacob, "The Future of the Renewable Fuel Standard" (2019). Honors Capstone Projects - All. 1092.
https://surface.syr.edu/honors_capstone/1092
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