A bipartisan group of US lawmakers has urged the administration to reaffirm its commitment to the country’s biofuel sector, warning that delays or policy uncertainty could harm farmers, producers and consumers.
U.S. Representatives Adrian Smith (R‑NE) and Nikki Budzinski (D‑IL) led a letter signed by 37 colleagues to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin and Energy Secretary Chris Wright. The lawmakers called on the administration to propose a supplemental rule by 16 October 2026 that protects the integrity of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) biofuel volume requirements for 2026 and 2027.
They argued that timely action is essential to maintain confidence across the biofuel supply chain. Any postponement, they said, risks undermining market stability for growers and producers while threatening cost savings for motorists.
In the letter, the group highlighted the economic importance of biofuels to rural communities, noting that strong demand supports competitive commodity prices and sustains tens of thousands of manufacturing jobs.
They also pointed to the consumer benefits delivered by higher‑blend fuels. According to the lawmakers, E15 typically saves drivers around 30 cents per gallon compared with E10, while B20 biodiesel is roughly 11 cents cheaper than standard diesel.
They warned that the cost‑saving potential built into the 2026 and 2027 RFS volumes could be lost if small refinery exemptions and what they describe as a flawed reallocation approach are allowed to erode the programme’s effectiveness.
“The stakes for our constituents could not be higher,” the lawmakers wrote, stressing that preserving robust biofuel volumes is vital for rural economies and household budgets alike.
They concluded by urging the administration to act swiftly to provide clarity and uphold its commitments to American‑grown renewable energy.
Bipartisan lawmakers call for stronger long‑term support for US biofuels
