Renewable Fuel Standard Integrity Act of 2021

Renewable Fuel Standard Integrity Act of 2021

This bill revises requirements for exemptions from the renewable fuel standard (RFS) given to small refineries of crude oil. The existing RFS requires transportation fuel to contain a minimum volume of renewable fuel. The bill establishes an annual deadline for petitions by small refineries for exemptions from the RFS. In addition, the bill subjects information in the petition to public disclosure requirements.

Bill 117 HR 1113, also known as the Renewable Fuel Standard Integrity Act of 2021, aims to address issues related to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program. The RFS program was established to promote the use of renewable fuels in the United States, but there have been concerns about the integrity of the program and the accuracy of the data used to determine compliance.

The bill seeks to improve the transparency and accuracy of the RFS program by requiring the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to update and improve the data used to calculate the annual renewable volume obligations. This includes requiring the EPA to use actual production data from biofuel producers, rather than relying on estimates.

Additionally, the bill aims to address concerns about fraudulent renewable identification numbers (RINs) by requiring the EPA to establish a RIN integrity program to prevent and detect RIN fraud. This program would include measures to verify the validity of RINs and penalize those who engage in fraudulent activities. Overall, the Renewable Fuel Standard Integrity Act of 2021 seeks to strengthen the RFS program and ensure that it is operating with integrity and accuracy. By improving data collection and verification processes, the bill aims to promote the use of renewable fuels in the United States while preventing fraud and ensuring compliance with the program's requirements.