Clean Fuels asks EPA to sustain robust biobased diesel volumes in 2026-’27 RFS

Clean Fuels Alliance America filed comments Aug. 8 on U.S. EPA’s proposed Renewable Fuel Standards for 2026-’27.  

Clean Fuels expressed appreciation for EPA’s intent to provide consistent RFS growth in recognition of investments in new capacity from U.S. farmers, feedstock providers and biobased diesel producers 

EPA proposed a robust step-change in biobased diesel and advanced biofuel volumes beginning in 2026.  

The agency projects the requirement to reach 5.61 billion gallons in 2026—more than 2 billion gallons higher than in 2025.  

According to an EPA fact sheet, “These volume requirements, if finalized, will protect investments made by American corn and soybean growers, oilseed processors, and biodiesel and renewable diesel producers, whose products are critical to our country’s energy security and keeping rural economies strong.” 

In its comments, Clean Fuels wrote, “The proposal is a welcome signal to U.S. farmers and biofuel producers, and we are ready to meet these higher volumes with domestically produced fuel. We ask that the final rule sustain the volumes as proposed to ensure that our capacity is fully utilized. These volumes are readily achievable, based on current domestic production and investments that have been made.” 

The comments can be viewed here.  

“Domestic production of biodiesel and renewable diesel doubled since 2020 and continues to grow,” said Kurt Kovarik, Clean Fuels’ vice president of federal affairs. “The industry supplied more than 5 billion gallons of biodiesel, renewable diesel and SAF to the U.S. market in 2024, and we are poised to deliver more in 2026. Clean-fuel production is essential to farm security, supporting 10 percent of the value of every bushel of U.S. soybeans.” 

Kovarik continued, saying, “EPA is proposing many changes to the program and expressing the renewable volume obligation (RVO) in renewable identification number (RIN) gallons rather than physical gallons. We ask that EPA follow through on its intent to support our industry’s investments in domestic fuel production by maintaining robust volumes even if some parts of the proposal are not finalized. We also urge EPA to ensure that the step-change in volumes is not eroded by small refinery exemptions (SREs).”