Clean Fuels Applauds Senate Letter Urging Higher RFS Volumes

(Clean Fuels Alliance America) Today, a bipartisan group of 18 Senators, led by Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), sent a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan encouraging the agency to complete 2026 RFS rules and raise volumes for biomass-based diesel and advanced biofuels to levels that are consistent with production and availability. The letter points to the discouraging market signal EPA sent with the 2023-2025 volumes and the negative impact on local economies and jobs in the clean fuels industry.

“America’s environmental and energy security depend on the widespread production, availability, and use of biofuels. Biofuels play a particularly critical role in emissions reduction for heavy-duty transportation — including aviation, shipping, rail, and trucking — while opening up economic opportunities for American farmers,” the Senators wrote. “A strong RFS and broad availability of homegrown agricultural feedstocks bolster the domestic fuel supply and are critical for ensuring we keep up the progress we have made in decarbonizing our roads, seas, railways, and skies.”

“Iowa businesses are bearing the consequences of the Biden EPA’s 2023 rule that set extraordinarily low RFS volumes. To give you an example of the impacts, a plant in Ralston was forced to shut down as a result, which cost local jobs and hurt Iowa families,” Grassley said. “The EPA ought to embrace biofuels by correcting its past mistake and increasing 2026 levels in line with market data. Our producers are ready to supply communities with clean, bio-based fuels — if only the federal government would help facilitate their work rather than institute burdens.”

Kurt Kovarik, Vice President of Federal Affairs for Clean Fuels Alliance America, added, “More and more heavy-duty transportation industries are looking for reliable, cost-effective, low-carbon solutions that are available now. U.S. clean fuels producers and feedstock suppliers have made significant investments to build the capacity to deliver those solutions right now. Those investments expand markets for U.S. agriculture, support domestic energy security, and drive economic opportunities for rural communities. EPA must act in a timely manner on the 2026 RFS volumes and utilize the best available production data to support advanced biofuel market adoption.”

Made from an increasingly diverse mix of resources such as recycled cooking oil, soybean oil, and animal fats, the clean fuels industry is a proven, integral part of America’s clean energy future. Clean Fuels Alliance America is the U.S. trade association representing the entire biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel supply chain, including producers, feedstock suppliers and fuel distributors. Clean Fuels receives funding from a broad mix of private companies and associations, including the United Soybean Board and state checkoff organizations. READ MORE

Excerpt from WTAP: U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) has joined a bipartisan group of colleagues calling on the EPA to raise Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS) volumes for biomass-based diesel and advance biofuels. Brown said this is part of his ongoing fight to grow and expand markets for Ohio farmers.

“America’s environmental and energy security depend on the widespread production, availability, and use of biofuels. We encourage you to raise RFS volumes for biomass-based diesel and advanced biofuels to levels that are consistent with production and availability, while ensuring an equivalent increase in total volumes to preserve demand across all categories,” wrote the lawmakers.

Earlier this year, Brown introduced the bipartisan Renewable Fuel for Ocean-Going Vessels Act to open new markets for farmers in Ohio and across the country by encouraging the use of biofuels made from homegrown farm products for ships and oceangoing vessels. Brown has successfully pushed the EPA to permit the summertime sale of E15 fuel, a clean and reliable energy solution that will help drive down fuel costs for consumers. READ MORE