Fuel STAR Act of 2026

Summary#

The Fuel STAR Act of 2026 amends the Clean Air Act to change how the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) works and to allow year-round sale of gasoline with up to 15% ethanol (E15). Key changes in the bill text include: a cap on yearly volumes of renewable fuel that is not advanced biofuel so those volumes do not exceed the projected domestic consumption of ethanol blended fuel in the most recent EIA Annual Energy Outlook; extended use of certain Renewable Identification Number (RIN) credits generated in 2020–2022 for up to 5 years after the bill is enacted (with a limit that no more than 20% of credits used in a year may come from 2020–2022); a prohibition on requiring electric credits (e-RINs) in RFS compliance rules; rules expanding and clarifying eligibility for small refinery exemptions (including a new category for small refineries averaging 10,000 barrels per day or less that began production on or after January 1, 2007); new economic factors and metrics to use when deciding small refinery exemptions; a process provision that treats a petition as granted if the Administrator does not respond within 90 days; authority for the Secretary of Energy to approve certain petitions using indices from a DOE study; limits on aggregate exempted volumes for refineries under the same holding company; and a rule that the Administrator may not reallocate the renewable fuel obligation of a small refinery that receives an exemption. The bill also amends the Clean Air Act to make Reid vapor pressure limitations for fuel blends with more than 10% up to 15% ethanol the same as for 10% ethanol, and updates statutory text that refers to 10 percent to instead refer to 10 to 15 percent.

What it means for you#

  • If you sell or use gasoline, the bill text would allow E15 (gasoline with up to 15% ethanol) to meet the same Reid vapor pressure limits as 10% ethanol fuel, supporting year-round E15 sale in the statute.
  • Small refineries that meet the bill's size and start-date criteria (average daily throughput ≤ 10,000 barrels and began production on or after Jan 1, 2007) are explicitly eligible to seek exemptions from RFS obligations for disproportionate economic hardship.
  • Companies that hold RIN credits from 2020–2022 would be allowed, under the bill text, to use those credits for compliance for up to five years after enactment, subject to a 20% cap on how many of those older credits can be used in a single year.
  • The bill text removes authority to require e-RINs (electric fuel credits) under RFS compliance rules.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

The bill text states it is intended "to amend the Clean Air Act to reform the Renewable Fuel Standard, and for other purposes." The short title, "Fuel and Strengthen the American Refinery Act of 2026," and the provisions included indicate the sponsors aim to limit non-advanced renewable fuel volumes to projected ethanol use, extend and limit certain RIN credit use, protect or extend exemptions for some small refineries, and enable year-round E15 sales by aligning vapor pressure rules.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.