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Biofuels and ag groups ask EPA to set RFS volume

The vice president of federal affairs with Clean Fuels Alliance America says the organization has been joined by several ag groups in renewing the call for the EPA to set increased Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volumes for 2026.

Kurt Kovarik says a letter to the agency asks for finalized biomass-based diesel volumes at 5.25 billion gallons.

“And that’s not aspirational.”  He says, “We produced essentially that much in 2024.  So, what we’ve asked EPA to do is provide not less than what we produced in 2024.”

He tells Brownfield the volumes were to be set by November 1^st, and the delay coupled with outdated volumes is having impacts across agriculture.

“That’s acting as a significant disincentive for production.”  He says, “It’s depressing feedstock costs.  Right now, we probably have 50% of the industry that’s scaled back or idled and a lot of that is as a result of those lackluster RVO’s that were set under the previous administration.”

Kovarik says a strong biofuels industry aligns with the Trump administration’s America First policies.

“President Trump said this himself that farmers need to find value added opportunities to use their products here at home.”  He says, “The renewable fuel standard is a fantastic tool in the toolbox to add value to the oil seed here in the United States.  Crush it here and add value to the oil by promoting it in biomass-based diesel.”

He says EPA is expected to propose a rule this spring, and he says the final RFS volumes should be in place by the end of this year.

American Farm Bureau Federation, American Soybean Association, National Oilseed Processors Association, North American Renderers Association, and U.S. Canola Association joined Clean Fuels on the letter.

AUDIO: Kurt Kovarik – Clean Fuels Alliance America