Policy
The Oregon DEQ has confirmed that the 2024 annual report deadline for the state’s Clean Fuels Program will be delayed until May 30 due to a cyberattack the resulted in an extended outage of the Oregon Fuels Reporting System.
Legislation currently under consideration by the New York legislature aims to establish a clean fuel standard (CFS) that would reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity from on-road transportation by 20% by 2033.
On April 23, the Advanced Biofuels Association (ABFA) met with officials in the U.S. EPA to convey the vital importance of domestic biofuel production to the Trump-Vance administration’s energy dominance policy agenda.
Aemetis Inc. on April 23 announced that its subsidiary in India, Universal Biofuels, has been working with the U.S. government to support the success of American interests in India. U.S. Consul General Jennifer Larson recently toured the facility.
CARB on April 4 released a third set of proposed changes to the state’s LCFS. More than 80 public comments were filed ahead of an April 21 deadline, including those filed by representatives of the ethanol, biobased diesel and biogas industries.
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality on April 18 proposed to delay the 2024 annual report deadline for the state’s Clean Fuels Program due to a cyberattack and extended outage of the Oregon Fuels Reporting System.
The Washington Senate on April 15 voted 25 to 23 in favor of legislation that aims to update the state’s Clean Fuels Standard, setting more ambitious carbon reduction goals that would require a 45% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2038.
In a rapidly evolving energy landscape, the 41st International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo will return June 9–11 to the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska. The event is recognized as the largest and longest-running ethanol conference in the world.
The U.S. EPA on April 17 reported that 1.82 billion RINs were generated under the RFS in March, down from 1.93 billion generated during the same month of 2024. Approximately 5.34 billion RINs were generated during the first quarter of 2025.
The U.S. EPA on April 17 published updated SRE data showing that five new SRE petitions have been filed under the RFS during the past month. According to the agency, 161 SRE petitions are currently pending,
CoBank latest quarterly research report highlights current challenges facing the biobased diesel industry. The report cites policy uncertainty and trade disruptions due to tariff disputes as factors impacting biofuel producers.
The U.S. EIA on April 15 released its Annual Energy Outlook 2025, which includes energy trend projections through 2050. The U.S. DOE, however, is cautioning that the forecasts do not reflect the Trump administration’s energy policy changes.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig on April 10 announced that the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program board recently approved 114 project applications from Iowa gas stations, totaling more than $2.88 million.
The USDA on April 14 announced the cancellation of its Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program. Select projects that meet certain requirements may continue under a new Advancing Markets for Producers initiative.
The governors of Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Missouri on April 10 sent a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin urging the agency to set higher Renewable Fuel Standard renewable volume obligations (RVOs).
President Donald Trump on April 8 issued an executive order that aims to protect oil, natural gas, coal, hydropower, geothermal, biofuel, critical mineral, and nuclear energy resources from state overreach.
Growth Energy and Clean Fuels Alliance America on April 14 filed a reply brief in a case challenging the U.S. EPA for its failure to reallocate gallons lost due to SREs granted after RVOs have been issued under the Renewable Fuel Standard.
Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., and Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, on April 10 reintroduced legislation to extend the 45Z clean fuel production credit and limit eligibility for the credit to renewable fuels made from domestically sourced feedstocks.
Representatives of the U.S. biofuels industry on April 10 submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Treasury and IRFS providing recommendations on how to best implement upcoming 45Z clean fuel production credit regulations.
Lawmakers in Wisconsin on April 3 announced their intent to introduce legislation that would create a $1.50 per gallon production tax credit for SAF. The bill is currently circulating for co-sponsorship support and will be formally introduced soon.
A group of 16 senators, led by Sens. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., on April 8 sent a letter to U.S. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin urging the agency to increase RVO and account for SREs in the agency’s upcoming RFS rulemaking.
A group of small refineries on April 4 sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging him “to sent the multi-national oil and biofuels companies back to the drawing board to come up with a biofuels policy that does no harm.”
The U.S. Department of Commerce has disbanded an advisory committee that provided the agency with private sector advice aimed at boosting the competitiveness of U.S. renewable energy and energy efficiency exports, including ethanol and wood pellets.
Iowa’s Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program on March 25 awarded nearly $3 million in grants to support the addition of E15 at 111 retail sites. The program also awarded grants to support two biodiesel infrastructure projects.
Effective April 1, Illinois’ biodiesel blend requirements have increased from B14 to B17. The increase was implemented via a bipartisan bill passed in 2022, according to the Iowa Soybean Association.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on March 31 visited Elite Octane LLC, a 155 MMgy ethanol plant in Atlantic, Iowa, to announce the USDA will release $537 million in obligated funding under the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program.
The U.S. EPA on March 24 asked the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to dismiss a lawsuit filed by biofuel groups last year regarding the agency’s failure to meet the statutory deadline to promulgate 2026 RFS RVOs.
The USDA on March 25 announced it will release previously obligated funding under the Rural Energy for America Program To receive the funds, applicants will be required to remove “harmful DEIA" and “far-left climate features” from project proposals.
The 2025 International Biomass Conference & Expo, held March 18-20 in Atlanta Georgia, featured of insightful discussions, cutting-edge technology showcases, and unparalleled networking opportunities.
Nearly 1.52 billion RINs were generated under the RFS in February, down more than 25% when compared to the 2.04 billion that were generated during the same month of last year, according to data released by the U.S. EPA on March 20.
Advertisement
