EPA Releases Finalized 2012 Renewable Fuel Standards

December 28th, 2011 by Joshua S Hill

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized the 2012 percentage standards for four fuel categories wrapped up in the Renewable Fuel Standard program (RFS2) yesterday.

The RFS2 program was introduced as part of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) in an attempt to achieve the use of 36 billion gallons of renewable fuel throughout the country in various transportation industries.

In a press release, the EPA stated that it 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 program not only supports traditional renewable fuels, but also advanced biofuels.

The renewable fuel volume targets are calculated as a percentage-based standard, which then allows each refiner and importer the ability to determine the minimum volume of renewable fuel they must use in 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)

Source: Environmental Protection Agency
Image Source: Sweeter Alternative on Flickr

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Tags: advanced biofuels, cullulosic biofuels, EISA, Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, EPA, renewable fuel, renewable fuels, RFS2, transportation fuel

About the Author

Joshua S Hill I'm a Christian, a nerd, a geek, and I believe that we're pretty quickly directing planet-Earth into hell in a handbasket! I also write for Fantasy Book Review (.co.uk), and can be found writing articles for a variety of other sites. Check me out at about.me for more.