Clean Fuels Applauds Senate Letter Urging Higher RFS Volumes

(Clean Fuels America Alliance) 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 READ MORE

Excerpt from Brownfield Ag News: U.S. Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Iowa tells Brownfield the levels need to be consistent with production and availability. “We will continue to support our producers,” Hinson said. “That means making sure we’re holding the EPA accountable for their failures.”

In a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan, Hinson and Minnesota Democrat Angie Craig said the production of advanced biofuels in the U.S. promotes economic opportunities for communities across the country and increases market access for farmers.

During a press call Thursday, Hinson said she’s disappointed by the agency’s recent announcement it expects to finalize biofuel blending volumes for 2026-2028 in December 2025, rather than the statutory deadline of November 2024. “The EPA is continuing to directly undermine the RFS,” Hinson said. “They are not following the law in terms of when these deadlines are supposed to be reached.”

U.S. Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa tells Brownfield the EPA’s delay threatens the rural economy. “We saw the closing of the Chevron REG (biodiesel) plant in Ralston, Iowa earlier this year,” Ernst said. “If we don’t have that certainty, it does affect our biofuel producers. It does affect what our farmers will want to do.”

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, volumes set by EPA for 2023-2025 were significantly lower than production trends. READ MORE

Excerpt from The Journal: We join the Minnesota Biodiesel Council in applauding the recent letter sent to the Environmental Protection Agency by members of Congress, including Michelle Fischbach and Brad Finstad, encouraging more usage of biofuels in the U.S. The letter from the U.S. representatives follows a letter sent by U.S. Senators, including Amy Klobuchar.

Of course, it’s not a big surprise to see Minnesota politicians joining others from agricultural states in support of biofuels. The most basic way to produce biofuels is through the fermentation of crops that are high in sugar (starch) or fat into ethanol. Of course, corn is among the major components of ethanol.

The Minnesota representatives are advocating for Minnesota farmers. Minnesota became the first state in the nation to mandate the use of biodiesel in 2002 and produces 85 million gallons of biodiesel annually. The Minnesota Council stresses in its press release that by using a B20 blend in the summer and B5 in the winter, equates to removing the emissions from nearly a quarter-million vehicles from Minnesota roadways every year.

On Tuesday, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture announced 16 retail service stations in the state were awarded over $3 million in grant funding to increase access to and sales of motor fuel blends containing at least 15% ethanol. The grants were awarded through the Agriculture Growth, and Innovation biofuels infrastructure grant program.

Grant funds can be used to cover costs associated with the replacement or upgrading of current station equipment so it can be certified as compatible with E25 or higher motor fuel blends. To be eligible, grantees must be a retail petroleum dispenser in Minnesota with no more than 10 sites.

Besides the monetary benefits advocating for the increase of biofuels, The U.S. Department of energy states that biofuels save consumers anywhere from 50 cents to $1.50 per gallon for two reasons. READ MORE