The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) today submitted comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the proposed Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) for 2026 and 2027 under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). ACE commended the Agency for proposing record volumes, while noting a few targeted changes to ensure the policy continues to fulfill its mission of increasing the use of American-made biofuels.
“ACE supports EPA proposing the highest RVOs to date, including more than 24 billion gallons of total renewable fuel for 2026 and 2027,” stated ACE CEO Brian Jennings in written comments. “We applaud EPA for proposing to significantly increase advanced biofuel levels, so those gallons are not displacing corn ethanol in the conventional biofuel pool.”
ACE also commends EPA’s proposal to keep RVOs whole even if small refinery exemptions (SREs) are granted for 2026 and 2027, and strongly supports a new “import RIN reduction” to favor American-made fuels.
“This step aligns with the RFS goals of making the U.S. more energy secure and boosting the American rural economy,” Jennings wrote.
While supporting many aspects of the proposed rule, ACE urged EPA to:
- Consider setting conventional biofuel volumes above 15 billion gallons to offset export market losses and maximize the blending of physical gallons of ethanol.
- Recognize higher projected use of E15 and E85, particularly given several state-level E15 year-round approvals, record E85 sales in California, and bipartisan legislation pending in Congress to permanently allow E15 sales nationwide.
In 2005 Congress enacted the original RFS statute and President G. W. Bush signed it into law at a ceremony attended by Bob Scott, the President of the ACE Board of Directors at the time. As such, the 20th anniversary of the original RFS coincides with this comment deadline.
“ACE was the first organization to support the RFS, and our leadership was pivotal in mobilizing other groups to help us urge Congress to eventually adopt it,” Jennings wrote. “When implemented properly by EPA, the RFS indeed has successfully increased the production and use of domestic renewable fuel, improved U.S. energy security, cleaned the air, boosted the farm economy, and reduced pump prices.”