Legislation recently introduced in the U.S. Senate would require the Department of Energy to track foreign imports and domestic production of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel.
Under the Renewable Diesel and Sustainable Aviation Fuel Parity Act of 2022, the Energy Information Administration would be required to report on U.S. production and foreign imports of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel. The report would include the origin, type, and volume of feedstocks used for these fuels.
The bill also would allow renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel production facilities to qualify for the Department of Energy’s Title XVII loan guarantees under the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
Renewable diesel that meets the same technical specifications as petroleum-based diesel according to the labeling section of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 would be exempt.
Last year, the California Air Resources Board and the California Energy Commission wrote Senate leaders addressing the concern that federal labeling requirements are limiting the use of renewable diesel in the state. The agencies pointed out that it is not feasible for fueling station operators to determine the exact concentration of renewable diesel.
U.S. Sens. John Barrasso (R-WY), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Steve Daines (R-MT), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) introduced the bill.