The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released its proposed 2011 percentage standards for the four fuels categories under the agency's Renewable Fuel Standard program. Annually adjusting the renewable fuel volume targets will help industry reach the level of 36 billion gallons of renewable fuel in 2022. Based on the standard, each refiner, importer and non-oxygenate blender of gasoline determines the minimum volume of renewable fuel that it must ensure is used in its transportation fuel.
For 2011 the proposed numbers are: 13.95 billion gallons of all renewable fuels. That's 7.95% of all fuels used. Advanced biofuels total 1.35 billion gallons. Cellulosic biofuels total 17.1 million gallons and Biomass-based diesel totals 80 million gallons. Based on analysis of market availability, EPA is proposing a 2011 cellulosic volume that is lower than the EISA target.
EPA is also proposing changes to the RFS2 regulations that would potentially apply to renewable fuel producers who use canola oil, grain sorghum, pulpwood or palm oil as a feedstock. This program rule would allow the fuel produced by those feedstocks dating back to July 1, 2010 be used for compliance should EPA determine in a future rulemaking that such fuels meet certain greenhouse gas reduction thresholds. The second change would set criteria for foreign feedstocks to be treated like domestic feedstocks in terms of the documentation needed to prove that they can be used to make qualifying renewable fuel under the RFS2 program.
Powered by iNet Solutions Group ©2011 All Rights Reserved.