EPA Sets Record Renewable Fuel Volumes for 2026-2027

May 12, 2026

By Faith Parum, Ph.D.

Key Takeaways

EPA sets record Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) for 2026–2027, with growth concentrated in biomass-based diesel and advanced fuels while conventional ethanol remains at 15 billion gallons. Nationwide year-round E15 would help support higher levels of ethanol demand.

Small refinery exemption (SRE) reforms redistribute previously waived gallons into future obligations, preserving overall renewable fuel demand and reducing long-standing uncertainty in biofuel and agricultural markets.

EPA did not finalize proposed import-related Renewable Identification Number (RIN) restrictions, signaling a more incremental policy approach that leaves room for future adjustments.

EPA’s final Renewable Fuel Standard rule establishing Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) for 2026 and 2027 sets higher overall renewable fuel volumes, with particular growth in advanced biofuels like biomass-based diesel and cellulosic fuels. Renewable fuels are produced from feedstocks such as corn, soybeans, used cooking oil and animal fats.

The proposed rule included provisions aimed at limiting the role of imported fuels and feedstocks in generating Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs), a change intended to better align the program with domestic production and support U.S.-grown commodities. However, the final rule did not adopt the import RIN reduction Instead EPA intends to establish import RIN reduction provisions that will take effect beginning in the 2028 compliance year or shortly thereafter.

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Video: The Corn Looks Good!

Border View Farms is a mid-sized family farm that sits on the Ohio-Michigan border. My name is Nathan. I make and edit all of the videos posted here. I farm with my dad, Mark and uncle, Phil. We also have a part-time employee, Brock. My dad started the farm in 1980. Since then we have grown the operation from just a couple hundred acres to over 3,000. Watch my 500th video for a history of our farm I filmed with my dad.

I started making these videos in the fall of 2019 as a way to help show what I do on a daily basis as a farmer. Agriculture is different from any other industry and I believe the more people that are showing their small piece of agriculture, helps to build our story. We face unique challenges and stressful situations but have some of the most rewarding payoffs in the end. I get to spend everyday doing what I love, raising my kids on the farm, and trying to push our farm to be better every year. I hope that I can address questions or concerns that you might have about farms and agriculture.

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