Re-envisioning the renewable fuel standard to minimize unintended consequences: A comparison of microalgal diesel with other biodiesels.

Highlights: [•] Conducted a life cycle assessment (LCA) of microalgal diesel from PBR to combustion. [•] Compared the results with other existing LCA results of petroleum and other biodiesels. [•] Assessed the current Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2). [•] Proposed an approach to set emission thresholds for eutrophication (EP) and smog formation potentials (PSP). [•] Future RFS should include a life-cycle emissions threshold for EP and PSP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]