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Clean Fuels sees sustainable future for biomass-based diesel

A biofuels policy expert says the U.S. EPA’s final 2023 production numbers show sustainable growth for biomass-based diesel.

Kurt Kovarik is vice president of federal affairs for Clean Fuels Alliance America. “In 2022, US production was about 3 billion gallons, and in 2023 US production topped 4 billion gallons. Enormous growth in this industry, year over year.”

But he tells Brownfield the EPA’s finalized Renewable Fuel Standards through 2025 provided only moderate volume increases. “They’ve got another proposed rulemaking that’s going to be just around the corner for starting in 2026 and we certainly hope that they get it closer to real world accuracy and what’s happening in the market today.”

Kovarik says he expects domestic production to climb this year. “We’re anticipating at least another billion gallons being added in 2024 and probably somewhere to 2 to 3 billion gallons here over the next couple of years.”

Biomass-based diesel includes biodiesel, renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel, and heating oil.