The Trump administration’s biofuel-blending rules are garnering praise, and some disappointment, from agriculture and renewable fuel groups, as well as mixed reviews from fossil fuel lobbying organizations.
The renewable volume obligations from the Environmental Protection Agency mark the biggest ever since the Renewable Fuel Standard program became law two decades ago.
Thorny issues involving the biofuel mandates, like foreign feedstocks and small refinery exemptions, will be analyzed for how they will potentially impact the 2026-27 rules, as well as how they might affect future RVOs.
The politics around crop-based subsidies also will continue to hang over negotiations on Capitol Hill for legislation to allow year-round sales of higher ethanol blends, known as E15.
Read more about the regulations here.
Here in alphabetical order are excerpts of how various organizations responded to the regulations on Friday:
Advanced Biofuels Association: “This rule firmly establishes policy certainty for future investment and robust production at a time when stability and diversification of our energy sourcing is more important than ever in the face of geopolitical uncertainty,” said President Michael McAdams.
American Biogas Council: “EPA’s final rule fails to represent real-world biogas growth, which will constrain markets. The action especially undercuts opportunities for livestock farmers, impeding one of the most reliable ways farmers can keep pace in a low-margin agriculture industry, and contribute to America’s energy dominance,” said Executive Director Patrick Serfass.
American Coalition for Ethanol: “Congress intended year-to-year renewable fuel blending to increase under the RFS and today’s announcement with the highest-ever volume obligations helps fulfill their intention,” said CEO Brian Jennings.
“It is critical that EPA set blending requirements at levels that fully account for any SREs granted. Failing to do so risks undermining the intent of the RFS by allowing obligated parties to rely on surplus Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) rather than driving actual blending and use of renewable fuels.”
American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers: “It’s baffling, with fuel prices already rising due to the conflict in Iran, that EPA is finalizing a rule that will make things far worse for consumers. The RFS already costs nearly 25-cents per gallon, and today’s rule will undoubtedly add tens of billions more. This is not what energy dominance looks like.”
American Petroleum Institute: “API appreciates EPA’s efforts to provide clarity on Renewable Fuel Standard volumes for 2026 and 2027 and supports obligations that reflect current market conditions,” said Will Hupman, VP of downstream policy.
“However, reallocating volumes from Small Refinery Exemptions distorts the marketplace, rewarding exempted refineries while disadvantaging the majority of refiners who are not exempted. This highlights the need for legislative reform to ensure the RFS delivers certainty, supports investment, and maintains a reliable fuel supply.”
American Soybean Association: “U.S. soybean farmers needed a win to boost domestic markets this year,” said Scott Metzger, president and farmer from Ohio. “The 2026-2027 RVOs will increase soybean oil use, boost U.S. soybean processing, and grow domestic biofuel markets for our crop.”
“While the rule does not make immediate changes to prioritize domestically sourced biofuel feedstocks, ASA celebrated the EPA announcement to reduce credit generation for imported biofuels and biofuel feedstocks beginning in 2028. If maintained in the next RVOs, the credit reduction for imports will serve as a significant economic driver for the entire domestic biomass-based diesel value chain and will catalyze domestic demand for U.S. soy.”
Breakthrough Institute: “EPA’s final RVOs double down on a biofuel policy that raises costs for consumers and increases pressure on agricultural land,” said Dan Blaustein-Rejto, director of food and agriculture. “The Renewable Fuel Standard already diverts more than one-third of U.S. corn and nearly half of soybean oil into fuel. Pushing more crops into the biofuel market will make groceries and fuel more expensive at a time when families are strained by surging prices, while also encouraging land conversion.”
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Clean Fuels Alliance America: “U.S. biodiesel, renewable diesel, and SAF producers are eager to get to work and bring the 7 billion gallons of existing production capacity up to speed to meet 10% or more of America’s demand for diesel fuel,” said VP of federal affairs Kurt Kovarik. “Today’s rule is a clear win for the nation’s energy security.”
Fueling American Jobs Coalition: “For months, we have been forthright with the administration and with U.S. House and Senate members that the proposed ethanol blending volumes for 2026 & 2027 were too aggressive, and that they didn’t accurately reflect what could blended into our nation’s transpiration fuels. Unfortunately, with today’s announcement, it’s clear that our efforts to advocate for achievable volumes were ignored, and this will now likely result in even higher prices at the pump for consumers.”
“We urge Congress to correct course and reform the Renewable Fuel Standard so that mandates reflect actual market conditions, protect American jobs, and prevent further damage to the nation’s fuel supply.”
Growth Energy: “With this rulemaking, EPA and the administration are reinforcing their unwavering support for American-made biofuels and sending a strong signal about the continued role biofuels like ethanol will play in delivering American energy dominance and greater prosperity to the heartland,” CEO Emily Skor said. “With so many farm families struggling to make ends meet, we must take every opportunity to build reliable, domestic markets for American agriculture.”
Iowa Renewable Fuels Association: “Today’s RFS levels are a strong step forward for renewable fuel producers and farmers,” said Executive Director Monte Shaw. “While we’re disappointed that the rule failed to fully reallocate the refinery exemptions from the 2023-2025 compliance years, it would be unfair not to acknowledge that the Trump administration inherited an SRE mess and worked hard with all parties to find a balanced solution.”
North American Renderers Association: “This rule reinforces America’s commitment to energy independence and recognizes the critical role of sustainable, low-carbon feedstocks,” said President and CEO Kent Swisher.
“The rendering industry is well positioned to help meet growing demand by supplying recycled fats, oils, and greases that support the expansion of renewable fuels.”
National Corn Growers Association: “This action provides certainty to corn farmers across the country who rely on a stable biofuels industry,” said Jed Bower, president and Ohio farmer. “There is still more to be done to help our growers, and we look forward to working side-by-side with the president and our allies in Congress to get permanent year-round E15 legislation over the finish line.”
National Oilseed Processors Association: “The historic volumes for biomass-based diesel, the 70 percent reallocation of waived gallons, and the commitment to account for SREs on a go-forward basis restores program integrity and puts the RFS back on a growth trajectory,” said President and CEO Devin Mogler.
“We also welcome the inclusion of the half-RIN for finished fuels and feedstocks beginning in 2028, a critical step toward ensuring the RFS supports American farmers and domestic manufacturing first and foremost, as it was always intended to do. This rule reflects the strengths and capabilities of U.S. farmers and domestic manufacturing, and NOPA is proud to support it."
National Sorghum Producers: “These volumes provide critical certainty for sorghum producers and help strengthen demand across the biofuels sector,” said Amy France, chair and Kansas farmer.
NATSO, SIGMA and the National Association of Convenience Stores: “Robust blending mandates such as those announced today can incentivize additional production of renewable fuels, creating additional supply and stabilizing prices,” said the groups, which represent 90% of fuel sold at retail. “At the same time, Congress should consider re-extending the Biodiesel Tax Credit to make diesel fuel — and all goods that move by truck — more affordable.”
Renewable Fuels Association: “Today’s action by EPA and the White House will boost the farm economy, strengthen American energy security, and reduce fuel prices for hardworking families,” said President and CEO Geoff Cooper.
“We continue to believe small refinery exemptions are completely unjustified, and the SRE petition process—including EPA’s reliance on the Department of Energy’s ‘scoring matrix’—is fundamentally flawed. SREs distort the market, undermine fair competition, and destabilize the RFS program. And while RFA appreciates EPA’s efforts to minimize market disruptions by reallocating most of the renewable volume lost to SREs, we believe the Agency has a duty to fully restore all exempted volumes.”
Sustainable Advanced Biofuel Refiners: “SABR applauds EPA for this final rule, including its decision to correct inflated equivalence values,” said CEO Joe Jobe. “We also applaud EPA for increasing the RVOs and partially reallocating small refinery exemptions.”
Taxpayers for Common Sense: “By continuing to pick winners and losers through mandated markets, federal policy drives demand for biofuels while increasing reliance on costly tax subsidies,” President Steve Ellis said.
“The Renewable Fuel Standard has done more harm than good -- raising food and fuel prices, distorting agricultural markets, and creating lasting environmental liabilities. Congress and the administration should roll back policies that burden taxpayers and consumers, not double down on them.”
With contributions from Noah Wicks.
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