U.S. Reps. August Pfluger (R-TX) and Jodey Arrington (R-TX) led 40 of their colleagues, including the entire Texas Republican delegation, in recommending modifications to the 2026 and 2027 Renewable Volume Obligations (RVO) proposed rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
“When finalizing this rule, we urge you to consider the impact the refining sector has on the American economy, ensure the rulemaking maintains stability in the domestic fuels market, and sustain a strong and competitive industry that is vital to our nation’s energy security,” wrote the members in a Sept. 9 letter sent to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.
The lawmakers’ recommendations aim to lower fuel costs for Americans, maintain competitiveness in the liquid fuels manufacturing industry, and support the Trump administration’s mission of unleashing American energy, according to their letter.
Specifically, they request that the EPA modify its June 2025 proposed rule on RVOs established under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for 2026 and 2027 by aligning RVO volumes with market realities and ensure standards can be met with available domestic feedstocks.
“In particular, we recommend minimizing RVO increases to avoid a large and expansive regulatory mandate on the industry,” wrote the members. “Overall, the liquid fuel manufacturing industry has made significant investments and spent billions of dollars to comply with the RFS since its inception in 2005. A significant increase in RVO obligations would place an unsustainable burden on refineries and significantly increase costs on U.S. consumers and businesses.”
Additionally, they asked the EPA to prevent the reallocation of regulatory compliance burdens to larger refiners when Small Refinery Exemptions are granted; and to maintain a 100-percent Renewable Identification Number (RIN) value for imported renewable fuels and feedstocks to preserve the competitiveness of American manufacturers, according to their letter.
“If the RIN value for foreign feedstocks is reduced, domestic fuel manufacturers will be at a competitive disadvantage compared to foreign producers, hampering President Trump’s strategy to unleash American energy,” the lawmakers wrote.
Among the members who joined Reps. Pfluger and Arrington in signing the letter were U.S. Reps. Kevin Hern (R-OK), Tom Cole (R-OK), Pete Sessions (R-TX), Stephanie Bice (R-OK), Jake Ellzey (R-TX), Julia Letlow (R-LA), Michael McCaul (R-TX), John Joyce (R-PA), Tony Gonzales (R-TX), and John Moolenaar (R-MI).