Clean Fuels Submits Testimony for Senate Hearing on RFS

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Clean Fuels Alliance America submitted written comments to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works ahead of its hearing to examine the Environmental Protection Agency’s Renewable Fuel Standard program. Clean Fuels highlighted the RFS program’s role in supporting expansion of domestic biodiesel and renewable diesel production capacity and achieving significant carbon emissions.

“The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is necessary to build domestic alternative fuel production capacity, bolster U.S. energy security, and address environmental health. It is succeeding,” Kurt Kovarik, Clean Fuels’ Vice President of Federal Affairs, writes in the comments.

“Biodiesel and renewable diesel are solutions that reduce carbon now,” Kovarik continues.

The RFS has reduced emissions by nearly a gigaton since its start in 2010. Use of biodiesel and renewable diesel reduced an estimated 143.8 million metric tons of carbon, Clean Fuels notes in the comments. The average gallon of biodiesel and renewable diesel reduces emissions by approximately 74%. Every 100 million gallons of biomass-based diesel added to the RFS program obligations each year can reduced emissions by over 600,000 metric tons.

“Maintaining the RFS and its support for domestic biodiesel and renewable diesel producers is crucial right now, as the nation faces an ongoing shortage of diesel fuels,” Kovarik adds. “We need the RFS program because oil refiners are simply unable to meet consumer needs for cleaner, better fuels.”

In 2021, the biomass-based diesel market grew to 3.2 billion gallons – its highest volume ever — and generated more than 4.8 billion advanced biofuel credits for the RFS program. In 2020, the market reached 3 billion gallons, generating more than 4.4 billion advanced biofuel credits for the RFS. Per recent Reuters analysis, the shortage of distillates is a key supply chain bottleneck that is contributing to inflation that could trigger a recession.

ABOUT CLEAN FUELS ALLIANCE AMERICA

Made from an increasingly diverse mix of resources such as recycled cooking oil, soybean oil, and animal fats, the clean fuels industry is a proven, integral part of America’s clean energy future. Clean Fuels Alliance America is the U.S. trade association representing the entire biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel supply chain, including producers, feedstock suppliers and fuel distributors. Clean Fuels receives funding from a broad mix of private companies and associations, including the United Soybean Board and state checkoff organizations.