NACS sent a joint letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, regarding the annual renewable volume obligations (RVOs) under the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program.
NACS and its co-signers, representing all parts of the liquid fuel supply chain, urge EPA to release strong and predictable obligations for multiple years under the RFS. Doing so will provide more certainty for obligated parties, renewable fuel producers and other market participants, according to NACS.
“We appreciate the opportunity to work with the administration on RVO policies that foster a deep and predictable liquid fuel supply, ensuring a functional market for our members,” said NACS Deputy General Counsel Matt Durand. “This is critical for business planning and compliance, as well as longer term stability to promote capital investment.”
In years past, Durand said, delayed standards set by EPA on a year-to-year basis have made it difficult for companies to plan ahead and make the most of renewable fuels market opportunities.
The letter states:
“The undersigned organizations represent a diverse group of industries, from petroleum refiners, fuel marketers and retailers, biofuels producers, and agriculture stakeholders. While our organizations have not always agreed on every detail, we have joined together in recognition of the critical role liquid fuels serve in the American economy, to advance liquid fuels and ensure consumers have a choice of how they fuel their vehicles.
Since the enactment of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), our nation has benefited from increased energy security, an enhanced agricultural industry and lower carbon fuel options. As the EPA begins work on policies that promote American energy and renewable fuels, we encourage the EPA to consider robust future renewable fuel volumes for 2026 and beyond. We believe strong, steady volumes for conventional biofuel targets, biomass-based diesel and advanced fuels would more accurately reflect the availability and ongoing investments in feedstocks and production capacity. Additionally, it would reflect the increased demand in new markets, such as marine, rail and aviation. Our industries will work to continue providing liquid fuels with the significant renewable fuel volumes that our country needs to fuel American growth.”