DOE issues guidance on provisional emissions rate process for 45Z
Mid-October, the Department of Energy (DOE) introduced an Emissions Value Request process to help producers claim the 45Z clean fuel production credit when their fuel pathway is not included in the government’s emissions rate tables, or “cheat sheet.” The process provides a way to request an emissions value for qualifying fuels not currently covered by the published tables, helping producers pursue the credit for a broader range of eligible biofuel pathways.
This news builds off of other recent updates, including Notice 2026-53, providing 2026 emissions rate tables, technical guidance on updated emissions calculations and a safe harbor for certain 2025 fuel production involving regenerative agricultural practices, and an updated 45ZCF-GREET model that integrates the 45Z Feedstock Carbon Intensity Calculator (FD-CIC) to account for qualifying regenerative agricultural practices.
EPA Proposes 100% Reallocation for Additional 2025 SREs
While in Peosta, Iowa, in mid-October, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the agency’s proposal to reallocate 100% of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volumes waived through 29 Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs) granted for the 2025 compliance year in August. EPA is proposing two options, both of which would reallocate the full difference between projected and actual exempted volumes for 2025. Under the first option, EPA would divide the additional volume equally between the 2026 and 2027 compliance years. Under the second, EPA would reallocate the entire volume to 2027.
The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) appreciates EPA following through on its commitment to address the additional RFS volumes waived through 2025 SREs and proposing to reallocate the full difference between projected and actual exempted volumes. Every gallon of renewable fuel displaced by an SRE means lost demand for American ethanol, reduced value for farmers and a missed opportunity to lower fuel costs for consumers.
EPA will accept public comments on the proposal through December 4, 2026.