Biofuels Blog

US Renewable Fuels Standards Finalized For 2011

**from Biodiesel Magazine**

The U.S. EPA has released final 2011 volume requirements for the renewable fuel standard, RFS2. While the agency reduced the volume requirement for cellulosic biofuel due to low production estimates, the standard for advanced biofuel has been maintained at the statuary level of 1.35 billion gallons. According to the EPA, the standard for advanced biofuel is able to be maintained because the agency believes that production of other advanced biofuels, such as biodiesel, renewable diesel, and sugarcane ethanol, will be sufficient to fill the gap caused by the disconnect between the statuary requirements for cellulosic biofuel and the actual volume of the fuel that is expected to be produced.

The 2011 volume percentages for RFS2’s four nested pools are:

- Cellulosic biofuel—6.6 million gallons (6.0 million gallons of ethanol equivalent volume)
- Biomass-based diesel—0.80 billion gallons (1.20 billion gallons of ethanol equivalent volume)
- Advanced biofuel—1.35 billion gallons (1.35 billion gallons of ethanol equivalent volume)
- Renewable fuel—13.95 billion gallons (13.95 billion gallons of ethanol equivalent volume)

These volumes represent the minimum amount of renewable fuels that must be consumed in the U.S. during 2011. According to the EPA, volumes of cellulosic biofuel or biomass-based diesel consumed above and beyond these requirements will count towards the advanced biofuel and total renewable fuel volume requirements. Together, the four categorical standards ensure that approximately 8 percent of all fuel used within the U.S. next year will be renewable. Read More >