The foundation is strong for expansion of biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel in the U.S., but to build on the growth of recent years, producers and stakeholders must remain united, Clean Fuels Alliance America CEO Donnell Rehagen told attendees of the Clean Fuels Conference in Orlando this week.Clean fuel producers persevered through a year that saw slower production amidst unsettled regulation, including questions about 45Z tax credits and the possibility of Renewable Fuel Standard exemptions for small refineries.But there were also key wins, and the industry can get back on track as positive policy is finalized and put into action this year.<ul><li>EPA’s proposed increase in biomass-based diesel (BBD) Renewable Volume Obligations (RVO) of nearly 2 billion gallons for 2026.</li><li>Exclusion of speculative indirect land-use change scores from 45Z tax credits.</li><li>Numerous new opportunities in state-level clean fuel standards.</li></ul>“We will lean into this moment,” Rehagen said. “The strong RVO proposal, the [indirect land-use change] exclusion, the 45Z tax credit—these aren’t abstractions. They’re our runway. We’ll turn those billions of gallons on paper into actual production, actual jobs, actual impact.”To achieve this, all producers and stakeholders along the value chain must remain aligned, he said.“Last year showed us what happens when we set aside some differences and work together. When biodiesel and renewable diesel producers joined forces with oil and gas refiners who’ve invested in our space—and farmers – when we aligned on RVO goals, we saw something powerful emerge. That unity between ag and energy gave us leverage we’ve never had before.”The conference, held Jan. 19-22, featured sessions covering topics from exports to regulation and feedstocks, to new markets and more.In addition, several major Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and fleets previewed the latest diesel technology and clean fuels innovations in a vehicle showcase on site.<ul><li>John Deere, with its Gator XUV and John Deere 6 Series Tractor.</li><li>Caterpillar, with its Cat® 903 Compact Wheel Loader featuring the new Cat C1.7 Tier 4 Final engine.</li><li>Immixt, LLC, with its Immixt Renewable Fuel System, its patented on-vehicle flex fuel diesel technology and cloud-based software, which allows fleets to blend biodiesel with ULSD diesel or renewable diesel onboard their diesel trucks.</li><li>Estes Express Lines with an International LT625 truck from its fleet, equipped with a Cummins X15 diesel engine and the Immixt Renewable Fuel System to operate on biodiesel blends up to B100.</li></ul>The sessions and vehicles on display showed how progress within the industry and along the transportation network has created momentum for growth.“We will expand demand,” Rehagen said. “More OEMs approving higher blends. More fleets adopting them. More infrastructure to support them. We’ll keep telling the stories: PepsiCo, John Deere, Pilot, the planes, trains and automobiles — and don’t forget ships and homes — that prove our value isn’t theoretical. It’s real.”

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The foundation is strong for expansion of biodiesel, renewable diesel and SAF in the U.S., but to build on the growth of recent years, producers and stakeholders must remain united, according to Clean Fuels Alliance America CEO Donnell Rehagen.

Clean Fuels Conference 2026: Unity drives growth, progress

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