The final Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) raises the biomass-based diesel (BBD) compliance requirement for 2026 and 2027, but it does not include EPA’s proposed “half-RIN” cut for imported biofuel or fuel made from foreign feedstocks. EPA expects domestic plants to use both domestic and foreign feedstocks; that is different from importing finished fuel. The resulting production and feedstock figures are forecasts, not observed full-year market totals.
What the final rule requires
EPA finalized its 2026–2027 RFS “Set 2” rule on March 27, 2026; it was published in the Federal Register on April 1. The rule sets BBD obligations in Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs), the compliance credits used under the RFS. One RIN represents one ethanol-equivalent gallon of renewable fuel—not necessarily one physical gallon of biodiesel or renewable diesel.
| Compliance year | Final BBD requirement | Small refinery exemption (SRE) reallocation | Total applicable BBD volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8.86 billion RINs | 0.21 billion RINs | 9.07 billion RINs |
| 2027 | 8.95 billion RINs | 0.25 billion RINs | 9.20 billion RINs |
These figures are EPA’s final regulatory volumes. The reallocated SRE amounts are added to the base requirements to calculate total applicable volumes; neither column is a count of physical gallons of fuel. See EPA’s 2026 final rule table.
What “no half-RIN” means—and what it does not mean
The proposal EPA dropped
EPA did not finalize its proposal to reduce RIN value for imported biofuel or fuel made from foreign feedstocks. In this context, “no half-RIN” means that proposed treatment was not adopted. It does not mean that imports are absent from the market or that foreign-origin feedstocks receive a separate physical-volume mandate.
#1 Best Overall
- 12-TEST COMPLETE FUEL ANALYSIS – Get UnderMyHood’s most comprehensive,12-point diesel fuel testing package with Water, BS&W, microbial, DEF, gasoline, Cetane, Flash Point, Cloud & Pour Point, Biodiesel, Sulfur and deposits testing.
- COMPREHENSIVE CONTAMINATION TESTING – Identify water, sediment, microbial contamination, DEF and gasoline contamination while also quantifying gasoline percentage for a deeper evaluation of questionable diesel fuel.
- ANALYZE FUEL QUALITY & COMPOSITION – Test Cetane Index, Flash Point, Cloud & Pour Point, Biodiesel %, and Sulfur to evaluate important diesel fuel quality, composition and low-temperature characteristics.
- CHECK FOR FUEL DEPOSITS & VARNISH – The Complete Package evaluates fuel-derived deposits and varnish that may indicate fuel degradation and contribute to fuel-system fouling, filter problems and operational concerns.
- PROFESSIONAL LABORATORY ANALYSIS – Submit your collected diesel fuel sample for professional laboratory testing. Prepaid analysis and return shipping are included, making the testing process simple from sample collection through results.
Foreign feedstock is not the same as imported finished fuel
A U.S. plant can make biodiesel or renewable diesel using imported feedstock. That fuel is domestically produced even though its raw material came from abroad. Conversely, importing finished BBD is a separate supply channel. Keeping the two channels distinct is essential when interpreting EPA’s projections or comparing them with modeled import volumes.
EPA’s production and feedstock outlook
Domestic-feedstock production estimate
EPA’s final analysis projects BBD production from domestic feedstocks of 4.5 billion gallons in 2026 and 4.7 billion gallons in 2027. EPA also estimates that biodiesel and renewable diesel made from foreign feedstocks will supply approximately 25–30% of the required BBD volume. The estimates describe different feedstock origins and should not be read as a split between U.S.-made and imported finished fuel.
Rank #2
- Made in United States
Scale of the production increase
EPA said biodiesel and renewable diesel production and use would need to rise by over 60% relative to 2025 to meet the final 2026–2027 volumes. That is the agency’s comparison and estimate, not a report of production already achieved.
How the February farmdoc scenario differs
A February 2026 analysis by Todd Hubbs and Scott Irwin of farmdoc daily modeled a scenario combining removal of the half-RIN proposal with higher BBD obligations, using information available before the final rule. It estimated total feedstock use of 46 billion pounds in 2026 and 61 billion pounds in 2027, compared with a modeled annual baseline of 40 billion pounds for 2023–2025.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchPC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Rank #3
![[2-Pack] Reusable Ethanol Testing Kit - Wide Mouth Fuel Test Bottle for E85 and Ethanol Levels - Fewer Spills and Clear Results in Minutes - Test Hundreds of Times - Two Ethanol Test Bottles Included](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51n+oPbsvaL._SL160_.jpg)
- Wide Mouth Design for Fewer Spills: Designed specifically with a wide mouth to easily pour gasoline and water into the bottle without spills and leaks. No more getting gas on your hands or searching for a funnel to fill and test your ethanol levels
- Reusable Over and Over: This fuel test bottle allows you to measure ethanol or E85 levels in your gasoline hundreds of times, with a screen-printed label made to last
- Quick and Clear Results: Test your gasoline levels in 5 minutes and three simple steps. Add water to the Water Fill Line. Then add gas to the Gasoline Fill Line. Shake well and wait five minutes. Gasoline and water will separate to provide clear results
- Easy to Read Label: With bright Water and Gasoline Fill lines and clear percentage levels, measuring gasohol, ethanol or E85 levels in your fuel has never been easier
- Protect Your Engine in Minutes: Ensure correct ethanol levels to protect and maintain your engine with our quick 5 minute test. Whether you are looking for an ethanol test kit or an E85 test kit, this bottle will correctly measure alcohol levels in both types of gasoline
| Measure in the February scenario | 2023–2025 baseline | 2026 estimate | 2027 estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total feedstock use | 40 billion pounds per year | 46 billion pounds | 61 billion pounds |
| Domestic feedstock use | 23 billion pounds | 31 billion pounds | 41 billion pounds |
These are model outputs, not EPA commitments or observed use. The modeled domestic share rises from 23 billion pounds at baseline to 31 billion in 2026 and 41 billion in 2027, while total feedstock use grows faster because the scenario also assumes increased use of imported feedstocks.
Why its estimates are assumption-sensitive
The February model assumed 2026–2027 fuel imports would be twice their 2025 level unless domestic capacity constraints required more. It also specified operable capacity and feedstock shares, and used scenarios with 100% and 50% SRE reallocation, averaging them for some comparisons. Its result that domestic feedstock use would be about 8 billion pounds per year below the earlier half-RIN scenario is therefore a scenario comparison—not a measured market effect.
Rank #4
- Accurate Detection in Seconds: Identify water contamination quickly, ensuring diesel quality and protecting your engine.
- Compatible with All Diesel Systems: Perfect for diesel tanks, backup generators, boats, trucks, and agricultural equipment.
- Easy-to-Use Testing Solution: Simple instructions make testing your fuel hassle-free—no special tools required.
- Reliable Results, Every Time: Trusted by professionals for routine maintenance and preemptive quality checks.
- Portable & Cost-Effective: Compact kit for on-the-go testing—save time and money by catching issues early.
The authors identify feedstock sourcing, relative prices, 45Z tax-credit incentives, and logistics as uncertainties. A statement by Darling Ingredients CFO Robert Day reproduced in the February article was: “So, I’ll go on record saying we support an RVO for advanced biofuels that translates to 5.25 billion gallons or 5.61 billion gallons.” Hubbs and Irwin quote Day; this is not a directly reviewed earnings-call transcript, and it is not itself an EPA requirement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the later June model adds
A separate farmdoc daily analysis by Hubbs and Irwin, published June 24, 2026, modeled physical fuel supply under the final RVOs. It assumed domestic plant capacity utilization of 90% in 2026 and 95% in 2027. Its results should not be combined with the February model’s feedstock-pound estimates: the analyses address different outputs and use different assumptions.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Best Value
- Dual Dial For Accurate Reading, With A 140 PSI /10 Bar Scale
- Deluxe Manometer Fuel Injection Pressure Tester Gauge Kit
- Set comes in a specially designed molded case to make storage easy and organized.
- A time saving quick coupler connection at the end of he gauge hose makes a speedy and efficient couple possible with most adapters.
- The included adapters, hoses and fittings cover all fuel injection systems and most cars and trucks world wide!
| June 2026 model output | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Assumed domestic plant capacity utilization | 90% | 95% |
| Implied domestic FAME biodiesel and renewable diesel production | 6.10 billion gallons | 6.43 billion gallons |
| Modeled residual supply met by imports | 0.60 billion gallons | 1.30 billion gallons |
| Modeled total BBD supply | 6.70 billion gallons | 7.74 billion gallons |
FAME means fatty acid methyl ester, a type of biodiesel. These modeled physical-gallon supply totals are not the RIN obligations in EPA’s table. The June article’s import residual is also distinct from EPA’s estimate of fuel made using foreign feedstocks.
How to read the forecasts
Higher RVOs increase the compliance volume that obligated parties must cover, but they do not by themselves determine which plants produce the fuel, where feedstocks originate, or how much finished fuel is imported. Those outcomes depend on capacity, sourcing, prices, policy incentives, and logistics. EPA’s final Regulatory Impact Analysis and Response to Comments explain the agency’s projections and assumptions; the farmdoc articles provide independent scenario analyses.
Quick Recap
- For compliance: use the final RIN obligations and SRE reallocation figures, not physical-gallon production estimates.
- For domestic processing and feedstock demand: distinguish EPA’s domestic-feedstock projections from the farmdoc models, and note each model’s assumptions.
- For trade: separate imported feedstocks used by U.S. plants from imported finished BBD.
- For market outcomes: treat all 2026–2027 production, import, and feedstock quantities here as requirements, agency estimates, or model projections. The cited materials do not establish full-year observed outcomes.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
