Tuesday, Clean Fuels Alliance America applauded a bipartisan letter led by Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Patty Murray (D-WA) and John Thune (R-SD) that urges the Environmental Protection Agency "to utilize the upcoming RVOs for 2023 and 2024 to continue to increase volumes of biomass-based diesel" and advanced biofuels. A total of 24 Senators signed the letter, championing the public benefits of continued growth in biodiesel and renewable diesel production and use.
"Farmers and biofuel producers are an essential part of the solution to the nation's economic, environmental, and energy security challenges. They deserve certainty in this policy," the letter states. "A multiyear rule would provide the predictability and market signals that the biomass-based diesel industry needs to grow."
The letter notes that availability of U.S.-produced biodiesel and renewable diesel generated a 4 percent savings in the price of diesel fuel in 2021 -- a reduction of $0.22 a gallon at current fuel prices, according to a recent study from the World Agricultural Economic and Environmental Service.
The letter continues, "With the increased use of biomass-based diesel, we can advance efforts to diversify our nation's fuel supply while creating and sustaining jobs, strengthening local economies, generating tax revenues, and improving energy security."
Clean Fuels' Vice President of Federal Affairs Kurt Kovarik added, "The biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel industry is working with farmers and others to sustainably grow and meet America's demand for cleaner fuels. Our efforts are generating new jobs and economic growth, providing consumers savings at the pump, and achieving emission reductions right now. We appreciate the bipartisan support of Senators Klobuchar, Grassley, Murray, Thune and others for a strong Renewable Fuel Standard. We encourage the administration to continue its support for homegrown solutions to our economic and environmental challenges by providing a multiyear RFS rule as soon as possible."
The U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel industry supports 65,000 U.S. jobs and more than $17 billion in economic activity each year. Every 100 million gallons of production supports 3,200 jobs and $780 million in economic opportunity. Biodiesel production supports approximately 13 percent of the value of each U.S. bushel of soybeans.
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.
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