The Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday finalized the 2012 percentage standards for four fuel categories that are part of the agency's Renewable Fuel Standard program.
"EPA continues to support greater use of renewable fuels within the transportation sector every year through the RFS2 program, which encourages innovation, strengthens American energy security and decreases greenhouse gas pollution," the agency said in a statement.
The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 established the renewable fuel standard program and the annual renewable fuel volume targets, which steadily increase to an overall level of 36 billion gallons in 2022. To achieve these volumes, EPA calculates a percentage-based standard for the following year. Based on the standard, each refiner and importer determines the minimum volume of renewable fuel that it must ensure is used in its transportation fuel.
The final 2012 overall volumes and standards are:
Biomass-based diesel (1.0 billion gallons; 0.91 percent)
Advanced biofuels (2.0 billion gallons; 1.21 percent)
Cellulosic biofuels (8.65 million gallons; 0.006 percent)
Total renewable fuels (15.2 billion gallons; 9.23 percent)
Click here for information about the standards and regulations, and click here for information about renewable fuels.
