Clean Fuels expresses disappointment in RFS delays

Clean Fuels Alliance America expressed frustration March 7 over ongoing delays in the Renewable Fuel Standard program.

U.S. EPA finalized a rule March 7 to delay compliance with the 2024 RFS standards.

The compliance deadline would have fallen on March 31.

The rule also updates the definition of “biodiesel” in the program to reference the most recent ASTM quality specifications.

In December, EPA proposed a partial waiver of the 2024 cellulosic biofuel standard, anticipating a shortfall of available cellulosic (D3 or D7) renewable identification number (RIN) credits.

EPA further proposed to delay compliance until the next quarterly-reporting deadline, to give obligated parties an additional 90 days to plan 2024 compliance strategies.

EPA took no action March 7 on the partial waiver but is deferring the 2024 compliance deadline for an unspecified period until it finalizes a decision on the waiver.

“The biomass-based diesel industry needs policy certainty that supports our continued growth and significant contribution to American energy security,” said Kurt Kovarik, Clean Fuels’ vice president of federal affairs.

“In response to the proposed waiver of cellulosic volumes, Clean Fuels asked EPA to make decisions on outstanding small-refinery exemptions to assess the potential impact on 2024 RIN availability,” Kovarik added.

“It is frustrating that EPA is delaying important program decisions and adding to uncertainty for our industry,” he said.

Last June, Clean Fuels petitioned EPA to reconsider the low volumes for biomass-based diesel and advanced biofuels set for 2024 and 2025, which were set significantly below production capacity and trends.

Clean Fuels has also filed a lawsuit over EPA’s failure to meet the November 2024 deadline to set 2026 RFS volumes.