Clean Fuels Alliance Foundation hosts 2026 New Orleans Clean Fuels Congressional Tour

Photo: Clean Fuels Alliance Foundation

The Clean Fuels Alliance Foundation, led by Executive Director Tom Verry, hosted the 2026 New Orleans Clean Fuels Congressional Tour May 29 for congressional staff to learn about the biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) industry.

The participants from 10 House and seven Senate offices serve on committees essential to the industry including energy and commerce, agriculture, finance and transportation.

The group spent the day with industry representatives visiting key facilities in the New Orleans region hearing directly from sector leaders about clean-fuel production, feedstocks, policy, infrastructure and the role of agriculture in building the clean-fuels economy.

Many staffers found the opportunity to network as the most beneficial aspect of the tour, elaborating they would work with industry sponsors and other congressional staff they met to advance biofuels policy.

The tour provided the participants with balanced exposure to both the economic and technical elements of the industry.

A tax-policy advisor on the tour expressed that the information provided on how the 45Z clean fuel production credit is affecting clean-fuels markets was important for understanding how legislative and regulatory uncertainty have tangible investment impact.

“Because I am an economist by training, not an energy expert, this trip helped me understand the technical aspects of clean-fuel production,” the tax-policy advisor noted.

Verry welcomed attendees before a Clean Fuels 101 presentation from Paul Winters, the director of public affairs and federal communications for Clean Fuels Alliance America.

Winters explained how biodiesel, renewable diesel and SAF are made, while highlighting the feedstock and market coordination needed to support continued industry growth.

Kate Shenk, Clean Fuels’ director of regulatory affairs, then provided a policy overview, discussing federal programs such as the Renewable Fuel Standard and producer tax credits that help drive market demand.

Ryan Locke, the vice president of engagement for the National Oilseed Processors Association, also discussed the oilseed-crush industry’s investments, growth and policy priorities.

The first facility stop was Diamond Green Diesel in Norco, Louisiana.

DGD, a joint venture between Valero Energy Corp. and Darling Ingredients Inc., is the largest renewable diesel producer in North America and the second largest in the world.

Neil Fox, DGD’s executive director and commercial manager, led participants through the facility and explained how renewable diesel is produced.

Participants learned about DGD’s investments, production capacity and the value the renewable diesel industry brings to renderers and agricultural supply chains.

The tour continued to Bunge Chevron Ag Renewables LLC in Destrehan, Louisiana.

Bunge Chevron Ag Renewables supplies raw and processed agricultural commodities and specialized food ingredients to a wide range of customers.

Harrison Lang, logistics manager, and Luke Blocker, assistant plant manager, discussed the facility’s soybean-processing operations and the recently announced joint venture supporting Chevron’s renewable diesel production in Geismar, Louisiana.

Participants learned how soybeans are crushed to produce meal for food and feed, as well as oil used in biodiesel, renewable diesel and other products.

During lunch, Andy Brown from the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation discussed Louisiana’s soybean industry and the added value that expanded biodiesel and renewable diesel markets bring to agriculture.

Ann Vail, executive director of Louisiana Clean Fuels, and Aspen Nero, director of the Southeast Louisiana Clean Fuels Partnership, discussed local efforts to expand renewable diesel infrastructure and increase in-state use.

After lunch, participants toured the IMTT Terminal in St. Rose, Louisiana.

Tom Nash of IMTT discussed the storage and handling of fats, oils and fuels.

Participants saw how materials such as soybean oil are stored and moved through terminal infrastructure before being transported to DGD and other locations for use in fuel, food and other markets.

The final facility visit took place aboard ADM’s ARTCO crew boat.

ARTCO is ADM’s wholly owned river transportation company, operating barges, tugs and crew boats that support grain handling, storage, import and export operations.

Brent Boeckman, ARTCO NOLA general manager, discussed the company’s sustainability goals for its fleet and its current use of biodiesel in select locations.

Participants received a firsthand look at the scale, complexity and importance of river transportation and grain handling within the broader clean-fuels supply chain.

The day concluded at Harbor Seafood & Oyster Bar in Kenner, Louisiana, where Verry provided closing remarks and led a question-and-answer session.

He noted that the tour offered “an important opportunity to show congressional staff firsthand how clean fuels are produced, transported and delivered throughout the supply chain.”

Verry also said that seeing these operations up close helps connect policy discussions in Washington, D.C., to the real-world infrastructure, investment and people driving America’s clean-fuels future.