Biofuels groups submitted comments this week to USDA on its interim rule for climate-smart agriculture guidance to support the new 45Z tax credit for clean fuel producers. The Renewable Fuels Association emphasized the importance of policies that empower farmers while ensuring a robust and efficient renewable fuels market. RFA highlighted the benefits of a book-and-claim supply chain management system, which …
Groups Want Final 2026 Biomass-Based Diesel Volumes
Organizations supporting biomass-based diesel are urging EPA to establish robust, timely Renewable Fuel Standard volumes for 2026 and beyond. Members of Clean Fuels Alliance America, American Farm Bureau Federation, American Soybean Association, National Oilseed Processors Association, North American Renderers Association, and U.S. Canola Association sent a letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin this week asking that EPA propose and finalize …
EPA Extends Compliance Deadline for RFS
On Friday the Environmental Protection Agency announced a final rule to extend the March 31 deadline for Renewable Fuel Standard compliance reporting for 2024. The rule also updates the definition of “biodiesel” in the program to reference the most recent ASTM quality specifications, and Clean Fuels Alliance America expressed disappointment in response. In December, EPA proposed a partial waiver of …
Liquid Fuel Stakeholders Urge EPA to Set RFS Volumes
A diverse group of stakeholders, including petroleum refiners, fuel marketers and retailers, biofuels producers, and farmers, sent a letter to urging Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin urging him to set robust, timely, and multi-year Renewable Fuel Standards for 2026 and beyond. “Since the enactment of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), our nation has benefited from increased energy security, an …
EPA Adds to Farm, Ranch and Rural Advisory Committee
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan this week announced the appointment of 18 new members and reappointment of six members to the agency’s Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee, which provides independent policy advice and recommendations on issues affecting agriculture and rural communities. Among the new members from the biofuels sector are Alan Weber, Biodiesel Coalition of Missouri, …
RFA Elects New Leadership
The Renewable Fuels Association elected new officers and board members at its annual membership meeting this week in Milwaukee. Jeff Oestmann, CEO of Aztalan Bio, near Johnson Creek, Wisc., was elected chair. Oestmann’s long career in ethanol and agriculture includes leadership roles at Granite Falls Energy, Syngenta, and East Kansas Agri-Energy. “It’s a true honor to step into the role …
RFA Seeks Update on EPA Feedstock Audits
The Renewable Fuels Association is asking the Environmental Protection Agency for an update on the investigation into certain biofuel feedstock imports and also urged the adoption of stricter feedstock verification requirements for imported used cooking oil (UCO) and tallow. In a letter this week to EPA Administrator Michael Regan, RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper noted that monthly tallow and …
Court Decision Impacts RFS Small Refinery Exemptions
Ethanol industry leaders are disappointed and surprised by a U.S. Court of Appeals D.C. Circuit order on Friday vacating most of the EPA’s 2022 denials of petitions for small refinery exemptions from Renewable Fuel Standard obligations, and remanding those petitions to EPA for further proceedings. While the court’s opinion remains under seal and is unavailable for public review the coalition …
Court Rejects Oil Industry Challenge to RFS
A D.C. Circuit Court ruling on Tuesday upholds EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standards for 2020-2022 and rejects the oil refining industry’s challenges to the rule. The Court found that EPA acted appropriately in setting RFS standards for those years, including a supplemental volume requirement to comply with a 2016 D.C. Circuit Court decision. “Once again, renewable fuel producers claim that EPA’s …
Coalition Urges EPA to Reject Petition
A coalition representing farmers, ethanol producers, fuel retailers and fuel distribution companies is urging the Environmental Protection Agency to reject a recent petition by CVR Energy to alter the Renewable Fuel Standard’s credit trading program, which they say would ultimately lead to higher prices for consumers. The organizations include the Renewable Fuels Association; National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS); NATSO, …