WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized the 2011 percentage standards for the four categories of fuel under the agency's renewable fuel standard program, known as RFS2, the EPA announced in a release.

The Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) amended the Clean Air Act to greatly increase the total required volume of renewable fuels each year, reaching a level of 36 billion gallons in 2022. To achieve these volumes, EPA calculates percentage-based standards for the following year. Based on the standards, each producer and importer of gasoline and diesel determines the minimum volume of renewable fuel that it must ensure is used in its transportation fuel.

The final 2011 overall volume and standards are:

• Cellulosic biofuel - 6.6 million gallons; 0.003 percent

• Biomass-based diesel - 800 million gallons; 0.69 percent

• Advanced biofuel - 1.35 billion gallons; 0.78 percent

• Renewable fuel - 13.95 billion gallons; 8.01 percent

Based on an analysis of expected market availability, EPA is finalizing a lower 2011 cellulosic volume than the statutory target. Overall, EPA remains optimistic that the commercial availability of cellulosic biofuel will continue to grow in the years ahead, according to the agency.

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