Clean Fuels Alliance America, along with 48 of its member companies, has formally requested the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish higher Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volumes for biomass-based diesel. In a letter delivered to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, the group urged the agency to set the 2026 volume at no less than 5.25 billion gallons and to allow for continued growth by setting the 2027 volume at 5.75 billion gallons.
“We ask that EPA without delay set the 2026 RFS biomass-based diesel volume at not less than 5.25 billion gallons,” Clean Fuels and its members stated in the letter. “We further urge you to support continuing growth by setting the 2027 RFS biomass-based diesel volume at 5.75 billion gallons.”
The letter emphasized the potential benefits of these increased volumes, stating, “These volumes will support farm security, create jobs and economic opportunity, and further President Trump’s goal for U.S. energy dominance.” The alliance believes a strong RFS signal from the EPA would help "unleash domestic biodiesel and renewable diesel production to resume planned growth."
Kurt Kovarik, Clean Fuels’ vice president of federal affairs, elaborated on the request. “Renewable Fuel Standard stakeholders are unified in asking for no less than a 5.25-billion-gallon biomass-based diesel volume for 2026 because it accurately represents current domestic production, investments in new capacity, and increasing U.S. availability of feedstocks,” Kovarik said. He added that the industry is calling on Administrator Zeldin to make this "step change" to support growth, save U.S. jobs, and enhance farm security.
The request is supported by findings from a new study, “Economic Impact of Biodiesel on the U.S. Economy 2024,” conducted by GlobalData on behalf of Clean Fuels. According to the letter, the study indicates the U.S. biomass-based diesel industry currently supports:
- 107,400 jobs
- $42.4 billion in economic activity
