The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held a hearing Wednesday to discuss the Renewable Fuels for Ocean-Going Vessels Act, introduced earlier this year by Sens. Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).
The legislation would open new markets for U.S. farmers and biodiesel renewable diesel producers by allowing them to preserve Renewable Identification Number credits (RINs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program, when the fuel for use is in ocean-going vessels. Ricketts made the point that renewable fuels help farmers and the rural economy.
Listen to Rickett’s comments here:
Sen. Ricketts comments (10:25)
“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 Alliance America. “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.”
Under RFS rules, biomass-based diesel producers and blenders must retire RINs when the fuel is used in ocean-going vessels. The legislation would designate such fuel as an “additional renewable fuel” eligible for credit under the Renewable Fuel Standard.
Clean Fuels, American Biogas Council, California Advanced Biofuels Alliance, Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas, Iowa Biodiesel Board, Maritime Innovation Coalition, Minnesota Biodiesel Council, Nebraska Soybean Association, North American Renderers Association, Renewable Fuels Association, and the U.S. Grains & Bioproducts Council sent a letter to Senator Ricketts in support of the legislation to be incorporated for the record during the hearing.