Clean Fuels thanks senators for considering Renewable Fuel for Ocean-Going Vessels Act

Clean Fuels Alliance America thanked Sens. Pete Ricketts, R-Nebraska, and Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, Sept. 10 for examining the Renewable Fuel for Ocean-Going Vessels Act (S.881) in a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing.

The bipartisan bill, introduced in March by Ricketts and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, would open new markets for U.S. farmers and producers of biodiesel and renewable diesel by allowing them to preserve renewable identification number (RIN) credits under the Renewable Fuel Standard for fuel used in marine markets.

“This commonsense legislation will remove a regulatory roadblock and enable U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel producers to keep RFS credits when their fuel is used in U.S. ports to supply cargo, tanker and passenger ships,” said Kurt Kovarik, the vice president of federal affairs for Clean Fuels.

“When ships arrive in U.S. ports, they’ve often filled up overseas with renewable fuels but can’t do so here,” he added.

“This bill will encourage U.S. producers and farmers to meet that growing demand and maintain America’s energy dominance,” Kovarik said.

Under RFS rules, biobased diesel producers and blenders must retire RINs when the fuel is used in ocean-going vessels.

The legislation would designate such fuel as an “additional renewable fuel” eligible for credit under the RFS program.

Clean Fuels, American Biogas Council, California Advanced Biofuels Alliance, Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas, Iowa Biodiesel Board, Maritime Innovation Coalition, Minnesota Biodiesel Council, Nebraska Soybean Association, North American Renderers Association, Renewable Fuels Association and the U.S. Grains & Bioproducts Council sent a letter to Ricketts in support of the legislation to be incorporated for the record during the hearing.

“Biofuels benefit energy consumers, agricultural producers and the environment,” the groups wrote.

“This legislation would expand agricultural marketplaces, enhance American energy security and create parity for maritime fuels with over-the-road and aviation fuel types in the Renewable Fuel Standard,” they stated.