North Indy News

U.S. Senator Todd Young of Indiana, along with a bipartisan group of senators and representatives, has called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to finalize its proposed rule regarding imported Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) and to maintain the proposed levels for biomass-based diesel volumes.

In a letter addressed to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, the lawmakers argued that these actions would help strengthen American energy security and provide support for U.S. farmers and domestic renewable fuel producers. They emphasized that federal biofuels policies should focus on supporting domestic agriculture rather than relying on foreign fuels made from overseas feedstocks.

“At a time when many farmers are struggling to break even, all federal biofuels policies should prioritize domestic agriculture and biofuel production, not foreign fuels made from foreign feedstocks. Additionally, while farmers face the uncertainty of foreign market demand, the Import RIN reduction would provide essential support for the farm economy so farmers could sell more products domestically,” wrote the members in their letter.

The EPA’s Set 2 proposal from June included record-high biomass-based diesel volumes as well as a 50% reduction in RINs for imported renewable fuels and those produced using foreign feedstocks. The legislators stated that this Import RIN reduction is consistent with congressional intent under the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit, which prioritizes U.S.-sourced feedstocks over imports such as Brazilian tallow or used cooking oil from China.

“The Import RIN reduction also aligns with congressional intent under the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit, which prioritizes domestic feedstocks. Aligning EPA’s policy with this standard helps level the playing field for domestic feedstock and biofuel producers with imported feedstocks, such as Brazilian tallow and so called ‘used cooking oil’ from China, which would otherwise directly undercut U.S. energy, agriculture and manufacturing,” they continued.

According to analysis by the EPA referenced in the letter, implementing these changes is expected to create jobs and stimulate economic growth across farming, transportation, and manufacturing sectors—particularly benefiting rural communities where oilseed processing facilities are located.

Other signatories include Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Michael Rounds (R-S.D.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.). Thirty-four House members also signed onto the letter—including Representatives Jim Baird, Erin Houchin, Mark Messmer, and Rudy Yakym of Indiana.

The full text of their letter is available online.