Platts proposes to modify carbon intensity for renewable diesel margin indicators

Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights, announced Nov. 3 that it is proposing to modify the carbon intensity (CI) for the renewable diesel soybean margin indicator (RRDFJ00) and renewable diesel tallow margin indicator (RRDFK00), considering the latest guidance stated in the “big, beautiful bill,” effective Jan. 5, 2026.

According to the bill, which was signed into law July 4, the emissions rate shall be adjusted to exclude any emissions attributed to indirect land-use change (ILUC) from the calculation of the clean fuel production credit (45Z).

These amendments apply to transportation fuels produced in 2026.

In line with the new law, Platts proposed to modify the reference CI for the margin indicators to reflect the change for the calculation of the clean fuel production credit while maintaining the ILUC for the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard credit calculation.

The proposed CI values are derived from S&P Global Commodity Insights research and analytics data, based on the 45ZCF-GREET model excluding ILUC and rounded to the nearest multiple of 5 kgCO2/MMBtu.

The reference CI scores for the tallow and soybean-oil margin indicators would be the following:

Platts publishes the renewable diesel margin indicators in Platts Connect, Biofuelscan, Biomass-Based Diesel Report and fixed pages PBF0010, PBF0011 and PBF0012.

Platts is requesting feedback, comments or questions about this proposal to be submitted to mrts_biofuelsandfeedstocks@spglobal.com, and pricegroup@spglobal.com by Nov. 24.

For written comments, Platts is requesting clear indication whether comments are intended for publication and public viewing.

Platts said it will consider all comments received and will make comments not marked as confidential available upon request.