Clean Fuels Alliance America advocates on behalf of its members in regulatory and legislative issues at both the state and federal levels. Find more information about federal policies that support the growth of biodiesel and renewable diesel and about Clean Fuels' advocacy efforts through the links below.
Clean Fuels has a dedicated team of experts in Washington, D.C. and in the Jefferson City, MO, headquarters, who can help you connect with policy makers on these issues. Clean Fuels' Fueling Action Center is set up to connect you with your elected officials with a few simple clicks.
Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS)
Clean Fuels advocates for sustainable growth of the biodiesel market under the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which requires transportation fuel sold in the United States to include annually set volumes of advanced biofuels such as biomass-based diesel.
Tax & Clean Energy Policy
Clean Fuels supports
the multi-year, forward-looking extension of the $1.00-per-gallon federal tax credit adopted by Congress because it incentivizes fuel blenders to include biodiesel and renewable diesel in the U.S. transportation fuel market.
Biodiesel Fair Trade
Clean Fuels' Fair Trade
Coalition supports fair trade in the biodiesel market. The coalition advocates for the U.S. Commerce Department to maintain trade protections against unfairly subsidized and dumped biodiesel imports.
RFS Small Refiner Exemptions
Clean Fuels opposes retroactive exemptions, which reduce RFS biomass-based diesel volumes by hundreds of millions of gallons every year. Clean Fuels advocates that EPA ensure the annual RFS volumes it sets are fully met even after granting exemptions.
Infrastructure
Several USDA programs help build markets and increase consumer
access to biodiesel through infrastructure grants, education and producer support payments. Clean Fuels advocates for annual funding of several important programs.
Addressing Carbon
Clean Fuels works with federal agencies,
such as USDA, to highlight biodiesel’s innovative role in addressing carbon emissions in the transportation and agriculture sectors.
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Clean Fuels Alliance America welcomed a letter sent by Govs. Kim Reynolds (R-IA), Mike Parson (R-MO), and Jim Pillen (R-NE) to EPA Administrator Michael Regan, asking the agency to substantially increase the biomass-based diesel (BBD) and advanced biofuels volumes in the Renewable Fuel Standards for 2023, 2024 and 2025. The letter points out that the Environmental Protection Agency proposed BBD volumes below 3 billion gallons through 2025, even though the U.S. industry produced more than 3 billion gallons in 2022. EPA is expected to finalize the RFS volumes by June 14.
“Considerable investments by biodiesel and renewable diesel producers, oilseed processors, and farmers in our states will be put at risk without a true upward trajectory for the RFS volumes,” the governors write.
“Limiting rural economic development and hindering opportunities for farmers in our states is the wrong approach,” the letter continues. “Adding to the supply of fuel, expanding agriculture markets, and supporting rural economies is the right thing to do right now.”
“Domestic biodiesel, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel producers, soybean growers and processors, and many other allied industries are looking to EPA to deliver on the promise of an upward trajectory for RFS volumes,” stated
Kurt Kovarik, Vice President of Federal Affairs with Clean Fuels. “Our members have made significant investments to grow the industry, and those investments are already paying off.”
“We thank Governors Reynolds, Parson and Pillen for highlighting the imbalance between EPA’s promised trajectory for the RFS and its proposal,” Kovarik added. “In the first three months of 2023, the clean fuels industry increased
biodiesel and renewable diesel production enough to completely fill the meager space that EPA proposed for the next three years. EPA must significantly expand the RFS volumes to support the continued growth and availability of advanced biofuels.”
Dave Walton, a member of Clean Fuels Alliance America’s governing board and a farmer from Wilton, IA, stated, “A year ago, our industry cautiously celebrated what EPA called a ‘jumping off’ point that would put RFS volumes on an
upward trajectory. But EPA’s proposal did not deliver on that promise; it wouldn’t provide any growth at all if you weigh it against the current pace of industry expansion. Biodiesel producers, oilseed processors and farmers face real-world
consequences from low RFS volumes. There are 19 soybean processing projects in the Midwest to expand or build new facilities. As drafted, EPA’s proposed rule could put these investments at risk.”
Missouri Soybean Association President Matt Wright, a soybean grower from Emden, MO, said, “Planned growth of the biodiesel and renewable diesel industry promises substantial economic opportunities for farming communities. Biodiesel production adds
nearly $500 million to the value of our state’s soybean crop and supports thousands of jobs. Expected growth has encouraged investment in additional soybean processing capacity that will keep more value of our soybean crop here in our local
communities. As capacity and production grows, the economic benefits will increase – unless EPA fails to get the RFS volumes right.”
Greg Anderson, also a member of the Clean Fuels governing board and a farmer from Newman Grove, NE, added, “Homegrown biodiesel and renewable diesel production meets every one of the goals for the Renewable Fuel Standard – cleaner air, energy
security, rural economic growth and opportunity. And it is providing drivers a break on fuel prices at the pump by increasing the supply. EPA has no reason to set low goals for the advanced biofuel sector.”
