EPA Proposes 2012 Renewable Fuel Standards, 2013 Biomass-Based Diesel Volume (HQ)
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) today proposed the 2012 percentage
standards for four fuel categories that are part of the
agency’s Renewable Fuel Standard program (RFS2). EPA
continues to support greater use of renewable fuels within the
transportation sector every year.
The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA)
established 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, importer, and non-oxygenate blender of gasoline or diesel
determines the minimum volume of renewable fuel that it must ensure
is used in its transportation fuel.
The proposed 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 (3.45 - 12.9 million gallons; 0.002 –
0.010 percent)
Total renewable fuels (15.2 billion gallons; 9.21 percent)
Based on analysis of market availability, EPA is proposing a 2012
cellulosic volume that is lower than the EISA target for 2012 of
500 million gallons. EPA will continue to evaluate the market as it
works to finalize the cellulosic standard in the coming months. The
agency remains optimistic that the commercial availability of
cellulosic biofuel will continue to grow in the years
ahead.
In addition, EPA is proposing a volume
requirement of 1.28 billion gallons for biomass-based diesel for
2013. EISA specifies a one billion gallon minimum volume
requirement for that category for 2013 and beyond, but enables EPA
to increase the volume requirement after consideration of a variety
of environmental, market, and energy-related factors
Overall, EPA’s RFS2 program encourages greater use of
renewable fuels, including advanced biofuels. For 2012, the program
is proposing to implement EISA’s requirement to blend more
than 1.25 billion gallons of renewable fuels over the amount
mandated for 2011.
The RFS2 program encourages innovation, strengthens American
energy security, and decreases carbon pollution.
Comments are due on or before August 11, 2011.
Information on the standards and regulations:
https://www.epa.gov/transportation-air-pollution-and-climate-change
Information on renewable fuels: https://www.epa.gov/transportation-air-pollution-and-climate-change