Biodiesel production predicted to grow in 2017

In its final Short-Term Energy Outlook of the year, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasts ­biodiesel production to average 104,000 barrels a day in 2017, a rise of more than 5 percent from 2016.

Additionally, ethanol consumption is expected to ­average about 940,000 barrels a day in 2016 and 2017. In both years, ethanol’s share of the total gasoline pool will average 10 percent.

EIA said it made those forecasts based on the rule that sets renewable fuel standards for 2017, which the Environmental Protection Agency finalized in November.

In other developments, EIA expects electricity ­generation to grow by 0.2 percent this year, with natural gas ­accounting for about 34 percent of generation while coal’s share ­averages 30 percent.