CARB Exec Defends State’s Strict Clean Air Rules

Cindy Zimmerman

During remarks to the 2025 Clean Fuels Conference Tuesday, the executive officer of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) made it clear the state is willing to fight to defend its clean air regulations against expected challenges under the new Trump administration.

“I don’t want to be adversarial,” said Dr. Steven Cliff, who was appointed to head CARB in September 2022. “I just want to make clear that we’re here to defend the programs that benefit Californians and other states that take advantage of our programs also benefit. And you may have heard that the California legislature is working to set up additional funds to shore up state and local defenses against this new administration. We’re hoping that that’s not necessary, but we are working to make sure that our programs can stay in perpetuity.”

Listen to Dr. Cliff’s comments here:
Clean Fuels remarks - Steven Cliff, CARB (18:26)

Audio, Biodiesel, biofuels, Carbon, Clean Fuels Alliance

Annual Awards Honor Champions of Clean Fuels

Cindy Zimmerman

Two of the Clean Fuels industry annual awards were presented Tuesday at the Clean Fuels Conference in San Diego.

Floyd Vergara was honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his transformative contributions to the clean fuels industry and environmental policy.

As one of the chief architects of California’s groundbreaking Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), Vergara played a pivotal role in shaping one of the most impactful climate policies in the nation’s history. The LCFS revolutionized environmental outcomes by driving significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and fostering innovation in clean energy. Today, thanks to this visionary policy, biodiesel and renewable diesel account for an extraordinary 75% of California’s diesel pool.

During his 30 years at the California Air Resources Board, Vergara advanced from staff engineer to overseeing key regulations on industrial sources, alternative fuels, and cap and trade. Vergara most recently led Clean Fuels’ state affairs team, successfully elevating state-level initiatives as a cornerstone of market growth for clean fuels. His enduring legacy is a testament to the power of forward-thinking policy to catalyze industry transformation and environmental progress.

CABA executive director Carlos Gutierrez accepts award from Clean Fuels CEO Donnell Rehagen

The Initiative Award was presented to the California Advanced Biofuels Alliance (CABA), which has been a long-term strategic partner in helping drive biomass-based diesel use along the West Coast. As the primary advocate for biodiesel and renewable diesel producers and manufacturers in the region, CABA actively supports initiatives such as the Low Carbon Fuel Standard that position California as the leading market for clean fuels.

The Initiative Award recognizes CABA’s impactful collaboration among industry stakeholders, ensuring that clean fuels remain a competitive and viable solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector.

2025 Clean Fuels Conference Photo Album

Biodiesel, Carbon, Clean Fuels Alliance

Clean Fuels Celebrates Conference in Important Market

Cindy Zimmerman

The 2025 Clean Fuels Conference is being held this week in a very important market for biodiesel, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel – California.

“Biodiesel and renewable diesel have displaced 75% of all diesel sold in the state,” said Clean Fuels CEO Donnell Rehagen in his opening remarks Tuesday. “It’s now harder to find diesel fuel in California than our fuels. Our industry is responsible for 45% of California’s progress under the Low Carbon Fuel Standard so far.”

However, Rehagen says the accelerating growth in the industry has created a unique challenge, the need for more feedstock.

“Our industry’s rapid growth, more than doubling production capacity in the last four years, has outpaced domestic feedstock availability – at least for now. By our calculations, current volumes of domestic feedstocks would support about 3.3 billion gallons of fuel production,” said Rehagen. “As we’ve seen growing amounts of imported feedstocks coming in to fill the demand, it has generated angst with domestic feedstock growers and processors.”

Rehagen says it will be an active and challenging year for the clean fuels industry. “We must remain unified…We will need engagement from this industry as the impacts of 45z begin to take effect, and RVOs are set…all under a new administration. We’re going to need everybody to participate. If we win on these two things, 2025 and 2026 could be among our finest years yet.”

Listen to Rehagen’s comments:
Clean Fuels opening remarks Donnell Rehagen, CEO (27:21)

2025 Clean Fuels Conference Photo Album

Audio, Biodiesel, biofuels, Clean Fuels Alliance, renewable diesel

President Trump Declares Energy Emergency

Cindy Zimmerman

President Donald Trump made it clear in some of his first executive actions that he wants to make American energy great again, and that includes E15, but no mandate for electric vehicles.

Specifically, President Trump said he wanted to revoke the electric vehicle mandate so Americans will be able to buy the car of their choice. The order under Unleashing American Energy called for eliminating EV mandate “by removing regulatory barriers to motor vehicle access; by ensuring a level regulatory playing field for consumer choice in vehicles; by terminating, where appropriate, state emissions waivers that function to limit sales of gasoline-powered automobiles; and by considering the elimination of unfair subsidies and other ill-conceived government-imposed market distortions that favor EVs over other technologies and effectively mandate their purchase by individuals, private businesses, and government entities alike by rendering other types of vehicles unaffordable.”

In addition, President Trump called for a review of all existing agency actions that “impose an undue burden on the identification, development, or use of domestic energy resources — with particular attention to oil, natural gas, coal, hydropower, biofuels, critical mineral, and nuclear energy resources.”

The president also declared a “National Energy Emergency” which includes “issuing emergency fuel waivers to allow the year-round sale of E15 gasoline to meet any projected temporary shortfalls in the supply of gasoline across the Nation.” Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper had this response:

“We thank President Trump for directing his agencies to monitor fuel market conditions and issue emergency waivers for E15 this summer if necessary. At the same time, we renew our call on Congress to adopt legislation as quickly as possible that permanently allows year-round sales of lower-cost E15. Passing a bill would provide the market with long-term certainty and stability and make emergency waivers unnecessary.”

biofuels, Electric Vehicles, Energy, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Conference to Highlight Biodiesel, Renewable Diesel and SAF

Cindy Zimmerman

The 2025 Clean Fuels Conference kicks off today in San Diego bringing together industry leaders in the biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel markets with the theme “Accelerate.”

Clean Fuels Alliance America CEO Donnell Rehagen says the meeting theme refers to the rapid growth and transformative progress of the biodiesel, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel industries. “We’re now a 5 billion gallon year industry. We’ve doubled in size in the last four years,” said Rehagen. “So we’re we’re expecting to have probably about 1000 people gathering San Diego.”

Clean Fuels Communications Director Heather Buechter says they are very excited about the conference agenda which will highlight the role that clean fuels plays in California. “It’s worth noting that biodiesel and renewable diesel now make up 75% of California’s diesel pool under the low carbon fuel standard.”

Mainstage session topics include:

California Dreamin’: Clean Fuels’ Time to Shine: The current and future role of biodiesel and renewable diesel in California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard
Acceleration of Change: Clean Fuels Policy, Plus Renewable Diesel Deep-Dive: What to expect from the new administration on fuel policies and what that could mean for businesses
All Aboard: Rail Contemplates Life After Diesel: How biodiesel and renewable diesel are helping the rail industry reach clean-fuel goals
Detour Ahead?: New Emissions Regulations Driving OEM Product: Clean fuel regulation and challenges for Original Equipment Manufacturers and fleets
Feedstock Revolution: Unleashing the Power for Clean Fuels: How conventional and new feedstock supplies are developing to meet new demands for clean fuel

The Clean Fuels Vehicle Showcase Wednesday evening will feature a range of heavy-duty equipment and technologies with representatives on hand to answer questions.

Follow coverage of the conference on the Clean Fuels Conference Blog.

Interview with Heather Buechter, Clean Fuels (9:09)

NAFB24 Donnell Rehagen, Clean Fuels (2:54)

Audio, aviation biofuels, Biodiesel, biofuels, Clean Fuels Alliance, renewable diesel, SAF

Eight Scholarships Awarded for 30th NEC

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Foundation awarded eight young people the opportunity to attended the 2025 National Ethanol Conference with the Robert Sather Memorial Scholarship. The event takes place February 17-19 in Nashville and is the nation’s most widely attended executive-level conference for the ethanol industry.

Recipients are a mix of college students and members of RFA’s Young Professionals Network:
Paige Madison is working toward a master’s degree in animal science at South Dakota State University.
Katherine Ludolph is studying agriculture business at Fort Hays State University and working at East Kansas Agri-Energy.
Robert Alex Lowe is a special projects manager at KAAPA Ethanol.
Bailey Masat is a commodities and marketing manager at Redfield Energy.
Denae Reeves is a compliance specialist at Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy.
Nick Thone is a grain manager and merchant at Aztalan Bio.
Tim Daniel is co-founder of Rimba, sustainability compliance automation software for renewable energy projects.
Kate Littrel is the executive assistant at Renewable Fuels Nebraska.

“The Foundation is happy to offer scholarships to these eight deserving young men and women for the 30th annual National Ethanol Conference, and we’re sure it will be a memorable experience for them,” said Neal Kemmet, Foundation chairman and president and general manager for Ace Ethanol in Stanley, Wisc. “As we look back to the roots of our industry, these newer members are sure to see how far our industry has come, and the great potential that lies ahead. We look forward to seeing them at the conference—and watching how they advance in their careers in the years to come.”

The NEC scholarship program is named in honor of Robert “Bob” Sather, an educator who helped found Ace Ethanol. Sather was a longtime chairman of the Renewable Fuels Foundation, whose mission is to meet the research and education needs of the U.S. fuel ethanol industry.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, National Ethanol Conference, Renewable Fuels Association

Biofuels Supporting Senators Question EPA Nominee

Cindy Zimmerman

President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for EPA Administrator faced questions from members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Thursday on a number of topics, including the Renewable Fuel Standard and year-round E15.

Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE) received a commitment from Zeldin to provide more certainty to the biofuels industry by following the law as it relates to the timeline for Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) rule makings, and then asked for his help in finally getting year round access to E15 for all Americans.

“I know how important this issue is to you, and I know how important this is to President Trump,” said Zeldin. “I’ve heard it from Senator Ernst. Heard it from Senator Grassley, Senator Thune, Senator Fischer, Senator Hawley. So I understand how much of a priority this is for you. As far as establishing certainty, hopefully this is something that Congress is able to resolve and to the extent that you’re relying on the EPA to establish that certainty, I look forward to being able to do my part and I want to continue to work with you.”

Ricketts noted the importance of American innovation to reduce our impact on the environment and referred to the Renewable Fuels Association’s Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle that he saw in Lincoln in 2023. “I was seeing a demonstration by a hybrid vehicle that for a $600 kit had been equipped to burn 85% ethanol, and it was getting 38 miles to the gallon while reducing the amount of emissions,” said Ricketts. “So that’s the kind of innovation that can help us reduce our impact on the environment if we’re allowed as Americans to actually innovate.”

Zeldin hearing - Sen. Ricketts (4:38)

Sen Jerry Moran (R-KS) was interested in Zeldin’s support of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) for the biofuels industry. “I want to bring together the opportunity to bring the agricultural aspects of Kansas together with the aviation aspects and pursue the development of SAF sustainable aviation fuel,” said Moran. “I guess the question would be we need your help in pursuing opportunities to develop the technology in any regulations that would follow that.”

As a former Congressman from New York, Zeldin previously opposed the RFS and E15, so American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings says its important for him to be questioned on biofuels support. “We are grateful for Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), John Thune (R-SD) and others for raising these priorities and additional issues like sustainable aviation fuel during their discussions with Mr. Zeldin today and leading up to his nomination hearing. We appreciate his commitments to follow the law as it relates to timely and appropriate RVO rulemakings and doing his part to ensure year-round E15 nationwide, building on the momentum of E15 legislation initially included in the year-end funding package.”

ACE, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, SAF

Groups React to Climate Smart Ag Rule and GREET Model

Cindy Zimmerman

Biofuel organizations welcomed the release Wednesday of USDA’s interim rule on Technical Guidelines for Climate-Smart Agriculture Crops Used as Biofuel Feedstocks, in addition to a beta version Feedstock Carbon Intensity Calculator, and the Department of Energy release of the 45ZCF-GREET model

The rule establishes guidelines for quantifying, reporting, and verifying the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production of corn, sorghum, and other biofuel feedstock crops grown in the United States and could help inform the inclusion of CSA practices in future clean fuel regulations and tax credit programs, like the 45Z clean fuel production credit.

“America’s ethanol producers applaud USDA for publishing these important guidelines, and we sincerely thank Secretary Tom Vilsack for his extraordinary vision and leadership,” said Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “Today’s USDA guidelines finally create a much-needed structure for properly assessing, valuing, and integrating the carbon reduction benefits of certain farming practices into lifecycle analysis.”

The rule mentions work by the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) projects, which will serve as a resource to inform updated greenhouse gas (GHG) credit values for CSA practices. “The ACE-led USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Regional Conservation Partnership Programs (RCPPs) are designed to help improve the accuracy of the GREET model, and we look forward to partnering with Argonne scientists and USDA, particularly in how climate-smart agriculture crops are calculated under GREET and USDA’s new feedstock carbon intensity tool, to ensure farmers and ethanol producers can maximize on 45Z and future programs,” said ACE CEO Brian Jennings.

Clean Fuels Alliance America says USDA’s rule could enable American farmers and biofuel producers to calculate the carbon benefits of conservation practices. “These rules are crucial to our industry, and continued growth in the industry is essential to the agricultural sector and to U.S. energy security. We will continue to work with our members to evaluate whether today’s releases provide clean fuel producers the policy certainty they need to negotiate feedstock and fuel offtake agreements, and ultimately grow the production and market for biomass-based diesel,” said Clean Fuels Vice President of Federal Affairs Kurt Kovarik.

USDA is requesting public comment on the interim rule to help inform future revisions or additions to the final rule until March 18, and ultimately the final decision will be made by the incoming Trump administration. RFA intends to provide comments to USDA on potential improvements, including the need for a decoupled, book-and-claim approach for supply chain management of CSA feedstocks.

ACE, aviation biofuels, Biodiesel, biofuels, Clean Fuels Alliance, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA, USDA

Sec. Vilsack Bids Farewell with Climate-Smart Agriculture Rule

Cindy Zimmerman

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack held his last official press conference of his tenure at USDA on Wednesday, announcing the publication of an interim rule on Technical Guidelines for Climate-Smart Agriculture Crops Used as Biofuel Feedstocks.

The interim rule establishes guidelines for quantifying, reporting, and verifying the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the production of biofuel feedstock commodity crops grown in the United States. These guidelines will facilitate the recognition of climate-smart agriculture within clean transportation fuel programs, creating new market opportunities for biofuel feedstock producers while enhancing climate benefits.

The action today is essentially what was missing from the 45Z guidance offered by U.S. Treasury last week and makes changes from the rules for 40B, according to Sec. Vilsack. “First of all, there’s an additional crop in addition to corn and soybeans. We now include sorghum. There are additional climate smart agricultural practices, including reduced tillage and fertilizer application timing. As importantly, practices may be used individually or in combination. They are not required to be bundled. And the CI reductions that result from using each practice would be better and more precisely estimated than they were for the pilot program in 40B.”

Click here to get the details from USDA and listen to Vilsack’s press conference below:

Sec. Vilsack final presser (23:20)

Audio, aviation biofuels, biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, USDA

Iowa Biodiesel Production Grows, But Future Uncertain

Cindy Zimmerman

Despite many challenges, Iowa biodiesel production in 2024 totaled 353 million gallons, up from 350 in 2023 and the highest production since the record 365 million in 2018.

Iowa biodiesel plants managed to power through being undercut by a drastically low Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) blending level for 2024, but could not escape uncertainty surrounding tax policy as the long-time biodiesel blenders credit expired while the rules for the new 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit remain in flux. By the end of 2024, multiple Iowa biodiesel plants were not producing.

“Iowa biodiesel producers powered through most of 2024, but the end of the year brought a time of uncomfortable uncertainty,” said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw. “We need quick action in Washington to prevent 2025 from being worse. Multiple plants are sitting at idle waiting and hoping for the Treasury Department to finalize the rules for the new 45Z Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit. Tax credit uncertainty has tied the entire biodiesel supply chain up in knots. We need action now. Biodiesel remains a key part of ensuring domestic energy security while boosting rural communities and farmers.”

Soybean oil continues to be the main source of biodiesel in Iowa, accounting for 77 percent of the production in 2024. Animal fats made up 9 percent, while canola oil, distillers corn oil, and used cooking oil (UCO) each made up over 4 percent of feedstocks.

Iowa’s ten biodiesel plants have the capacity to produce 416 gallons annually. The IRFA compiled production information from a confidential industry survey.

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