Clean Fuels Alliance America is voicing support for bipartisan legislation aimed at expanding biofuel markets to the maritime sector. The Renewable Fuels for Ocean-Going Vessels Act (S. 881), introduced in March by Sens. Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), was examined this week during a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing. The bill would allow biodiesel and renewable diesel producers to retain Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) credits for fuel supplied to ocean-going vessels.
“This commonsense legislation will remove a regulatory roadblock and enable U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel producers to keep RFS credits when their fuel is used in U.S. ports to supply cargo, tanker, and passenger ships,” said Kurt Kovarik, Vice President of Federal Affairs for Clean Fuels. “When ships arrive in U.S. ports, they’ve often filled up overseas with renewable fuels but can’t do so here. This bill will encourage U.S. producers and farmers to meet that growing demand and maintain America’s energy dominance.”
Current RFS rules require producers to retire RINs when biomass-based diesel is used in ocean-going vessels. The proposed legislation would instead recognize such fuel as an “additional renewable fuel” eligible for credit, aligning it with over-the-road and aviation fuels.
Several industry groups submitted a joint letter of support to Senator Ricketts for the record of the hearing, including Clean Fuels, the American Biogas Council, Renewable Fuels Association, Iowa Biodiesel Board, Minnesota Biodiesel Council, and the Nebraska Soybean Association.
“Biofuels benefit energy consumers, agricultural producers, and the environment. This legislation would expand agricultural marketplaces, enhance American energy security, and create parity for maritime fuels with over-the-road and aviation fuel types in the Renewable Fuel Standard,” the groups wrote.
