Author Archives for Rhonda O'Connor
August 12, 2026 8:38 am
Published by Rhonda O'Connor
In March 2026, EPA released record high 2026-2027 blending obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). These record high targets quickly became the subject of a lawsuit in the U.S. D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals – with parties filing suit from all directions. How the court rules with respect to these challenges will directly shape how EPA sets future renewable volume obligations (RVOs) and could impact demand for the current year targets under consideration. The Rule at Center of the Fight Since EPA announced the Set 2 Rule, impacted parties are choosing a side when it comes to this challenge... Read More →
August 3, 2026 2:28 pm
Published by Rhonda O'Connor
Maps Out Process for Future SRE Decisions & Implementation On Aug. 3, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued decisions on 6 petitions from small refineries for exemptions from the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for 2023 and 2024. EPA is granting the following: Full (100 percent) exemptions: 1 petition Granting partial (50 percent) exemptions: 2 petitions Denying: 0 petitions Declaring Ineligible: 3 petitions The exemptions granted apply only to the 2024 compliance year and total 160 million exempted Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) RINs; no exempted volume was awarded for 2023, where both petitions considered were the ineligible ones. RINs to be... Read More →
August 3, 2026 8:00 am
Published by Rhonda O'Connor
Think about the last time you returned something to a store. The cashier always asks why: wrong size, changed your mind, item defective. The refund happens either way, but the reason gets logged. RIN retirement works the same way. Once a RIN is retired, it’s gone; it can’t be traded or used again. But EPA also wants to know why it was retired. One of the biggest reasons RINs get retired is to satisfy the annual Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO). Obligated parties retire RINs to show blending targets were met. Per RFS Code an obligated party is defined as any... Read More →
July 30, 2026 8:13 am
Published by Rhonda O'Connor
Here’s What the Renewable Fuel Standards Says The short answer is no – and with data centers consuming energy at record levels, it’s worth understanding exactly why. As companies race to power AI infrastructure and cloud computing with renewable energy, a reasonable question has started to circulate: If we supply renewable fuel to run a data center, is that fuel eligible for RINs under the Renewable Fuel Standard? This use feels like it should qualify. The fuel is renewable. The use is real. But under the RFS, how the fuel is used matters – and data centers or stationary power... Read More →
July 15, 2026 9:00 am
Published by Rhonda O'Connor
The expiration of the Biodiesel Blender’s Tax Credit (BTC) at the end of 2024 and its replacement by the Section 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit has been characterized as a policy upgrade – a more sophisticated, carbon emissions-based framework that is renewable fuel neutral. While that characterization has some merit for renewable fuel producers, the picture is less favorable for downstream biodiesel blenders. Under the BTC, blenders had a path to the credit value – sometimes negotiated through the purchase of B99 – but it was real. Under 45Z, that path is murky at best. What was once a fixed,... Read More →
May 13, 2026 7:00 am
Published by Rhonda O'Connor
Selecting the right reason for a RIN trade is like ordering a meal for dine in or to go at a restaurant. Seems simple, right? Same food, but very different handling. Reasons for RIN trades work the same way. Spot, Term, Consignment, and Standard don’t change what you’re selling; they describe how the deal is structured. Once you understand what each one is actually describing, picking the right one becomes very straightforward. The Common RIN Trade Types You Need to Know Each time you sell RINs, you’ll select one of four primary trade types when entering the transaction. Each corresponds... Read More →
April 14, 2026 2:44 pm
Published by Rhonda O'Connor
March is often described as coming in like a lion and going out like a lamb, but this year, the opposite played out with respect to Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard. On March 13, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals quietly stepped aside on one of the closely watched issues in the RFS: SRE reallocations. The court ruled the case moot, declining to weigh in and leaving the question unresolved in Clean Fuels Alliance v. EPA. By the end of March, that quiet moment gave way to a much louder, roaring development. EPA finalized its Set... Read More →
March 27, 2026 3:00 pm
Published by Rhonda O'Connor
Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the final Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) “Set 2” rule, establishing the renewable fuel volume requirements (RVOs) for 2026 and 2027 at the highest levels in the program’s history. In its release, the Trump Administration stated the rule “realigns the program with Congress’ original intent –increasing the use of homegrown American fuels.” 2026 and 2027 RVOs. The final rule maintains conventional biofuel volumes at 15 billion gallons for both years while significantly increasing requirements for advanced biofuels, including biodiesel and renewable diesel. EPA estimates production and use of biodiesel and renewable diesel will need to... Read More →
March 25, 2026 3:00 pm
Published by Rhonda O'Connor
On March 15, 2026, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued an emergency waiver to allow summertime sales of E15 and remove federal impediments to selling E10 in certain states. Effective May 1, this waiver was issued earlier than usual to provide time for the fuels industry to transition the fuel distribution system. EPA stated the waiver “will work to prevent disruption of America’s fuel supply.” RIN prices were up 6-9 cents in response to this news and in anticipation of EPA’s release of the 2026-2027 RVOs (Renewable Volume Obligations) later this week.
March 11, 2026 8:00 am
Published by Rhonda O'Connor
Every Renewable Identification Number (RIN) tells a story under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). For RFS participants, understanding that story is not academic. It informs trading decisions, blending economics, compliance planning, and risk management. Whether you are receiving RINs with biofuel for blending, acquiring RINs for obligation coverage, evaluating inventory, or analyzing market exposure, the ability to quickly interpret what a RIN represents is essential. This guide focuses on what every RFS participant should know — and how to read a RIN in 30 seconds. First: What a RIN Really Represents A RIN is generated when qualifying renewable fuel is... Read More →
