Fuel-retailer groups urge White House, EPA to revise eRIN program, increase biobased diesel volumes

NATSO, representing truckstops and travel centers, and SIGMA: America’s Leading Fuel Marketers, recently urged the White House Office of Management and Budget and U.S. EPA to increase the blending mandate for biodiesel and renewable diesel under the Renewable Fuel Standard.

The associations, representing more than 80 percent of retail fuel sales in the United States, also encouraged EPA to remove its proposed eRIN program from its final renewable volume obligations (RVOs) for 2024, and instead revise that program to allow electric-vehicle (EV) charging-station owners and operators to leverage eRINs to make investments in charging stations more attractive.

NATSO and SIGMA have been meeting with the White House and OMB over the past several weeks on these issues.

During those meetings, the associations encouraged EPA to separate its eRIN proposal out of the 2024 program and instead pursue an eRIN program that integrates public charging stations in time for the 2025 compliance year.

“By separating eRINs from its upcoming RVOS, the agency can rework its original proposal and ensure that eRIN policies encourage private investment in electric-vehicle charging stations,” said David Fialkov, executive vice president of government affairs for NATSO and SIGMA. “Investments in DC fast chargers are not projected to be profitable for many years. Taking the time to revise the eRIN proposal to incorporate charging stations will help overcome the market challenges that are depressing private investment in charging infrastructure, helping the administration to reach its goal of 500,000 EV chargers.”

NATSO and SIGMA also encouraged the agency to increase the total advanced biofuels mandate by at least an additional 250 million gallons for each year to accommodate the additional renewable diesel that is being introduced into commerce.

“Biodiesel and renewable diesel represent the most viable near-medium term option for decarbonizing the trucking sector,” Fialkov said. “EPA should encourage additional investments in these fuels. Raising the total advanced mandate by at least 250 million gallons above and beyond what was proposed would be a step in the right direction.”

NATSO and SIGMA said they are eager to continue working with EPA on policies that ensure public charging can benefit from eRINs.

“We look forward to continuing to work with EPA to develop an eRIN program that includes public charging in time for the 2025 compliance year,” the groups stated.