Clean Fuels launches advertising campaign to boost biodiesel volumes in the 2026 RFS 

By Paul Winters, Director of Public Affairs and Federal Communications, Clean Fuels Alliance America

In March of this year, Clean Fuels, the American Soybean Association, the National Oilseed Processors Association and other farm and feedstock groups sent a letter asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to quickly propose 2026 Renewable Fuel Standards and set Biomass-based Diesel (BBD) volumes at 5.25 billion gallons. 

In April, Clean Fuels launched a six-figure advertising campaign to back up the industry’s request and build support for EPA to adopt the requested step change in BBD volumes. 

Clean Fuels continues to work with allied groups to spread awareness of the unified position on RFS volumes. The groups are asking all members to write elected officials, engage in social media and educate local news outlets about the importance of the RFS. 

Timely, robust RFS volumes are needed to revive languishing biodiesel and renewable diesel production as well as crop values. They’re also needed to support major investments the industry has already made. 

American fuel producers and soybean processors invested billions of dollars during the last five years to increase U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel production. The industry’s capacity is currently at 6.5 billion gallons – up from just 3.5 billion gallons in 2020. According to a new report from GlobalData, commissioned by Clean Fuels, capacity for biodiesel, renewable diesel, and SAF could expand to 7.3 billion gallons in 2026, if current projects move forward. 

Continued growth will drive more economic value for farmers. According to Clean Fuels’ GlobalData report, the U.S. biomass-based diesel industry supports a total of 107,400 jobs and contributes $42.4 billion to the U.S. economy. 

Within that total, 30,600 jobs are in oilseed production, bringing a $15.3 billion economic impact to soybean growing states. An additional 8,600 jobs are in oilseed processing. 

Biodiesel and renewable diesel production supports 10 percent of the value of every bushel of soybeans grown in the United States. The U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel industry used more than 1 billion pounds of domestic soybean oil each month throughout 2024 – an increase of 15 percent since 2022. That level of demand supported $1.10 in value for every bushel of soybeans grown in the United States. 

The soybean industry is ready to meet the volumes. According to an analysis by S&P Global on behalf of NOPA, the soybean processing industry has invested more than $6 billion to expand or build 20 crush facilities across 10 Midwest states. 

The investments will support 1.4 billion additional gallons of U.S. production by 2030 – with enough capacity coming online by 2026 to support the 5.25-billion-gallon goal. 

Demand for biomass-based diesel is strong and growing. The U.S. market for biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel topped 5.1 billion gallons in 2024. The Energy Information Administration in its April 2025 Annual Energy Outlook projects demand to reach 5.5 billion gallons in 2026. 

With jobs, economic growth, and major investments at stake, Clean Fuels will continue to work with allied groups and make the case for EPA to adopt robust RFS volumes that unleash American biodiesel and renewable diesel production.