EPA proposal on renewable volume obligations a ‘huge win’ for Ohio soybean farmers

WORTHINGTON – The Ohio Soybean Association (OSA) commends the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) on its renewable volume obligation (RVO) proposal for 2026 and 2027. The proposed rule makes significant increases in volume requirements for biomass-based diesel, up to 5.61 billion gallons in 2026 from 3.35 billion gallons in 2025.

RVOs determine the amount of biofuels that is required to be blended with gasoline and diesel under the Renewable Fuel Standard. The 5.61 billion gallons in the new RVO proposal is well above the 5.25 billion gallons the biofuels industry, including OSA, the American Soybean Association, Clean Fuels Alliance America, and the National Oilseed Processors Association had requested.

Notably, the rule would also discount the Renewable Identification Numbers (RIN) credit values for foreign finished fuel and fuels produced using foreign feedstocks, which would help prioritize American-grown feedstocks like soybean oil. This move would give U.S. farmers a competitive advantage in the biofuels sphere.

"Thank you to the Trump Administration for bolstering a crucial market for soybean oil,” said Rusty Goebel, president of the Ohio Soybean Association and Williams County farmer. “Thirteen percent of our bushel price comes from the biofuel industry, so this is a huge win for Ohio farmers and rural America.”

The Ohio Soybean Association will continue to work with U.S. EPA as they finalize the proposed RVOs.

About OSA

The Ohio Soybean Association is governed by a volunteer farmer board dedicated to education and promotion, as well as to uniting producer interest through support of legislative activities beneficial to the Ohio soybean industry. Learn more at www.soyohio.org/association.