The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program is a program that the renewable fuel industry is quite familiar with. Its main objective is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance energy independence, and support the domestic biofuels industry. To achieve these objectives, the RFS requires increasing volumes of renewable fuels to be blended into transportation fuel each year. The responsibility for meeting these obligations falls on obligated parties or entities regulated under the program to ensure compliance with renewable fuel blending requirements.
Defining Obligated Parties
Obligated parties are entities responsible for ensuring that the required volumes of renewable fuels are blended into the nation’s fuel supply. These primarily include;
Refiners: Process crude oil into gasoline and diesel
Importers: Bring gasoline and diesel into the United States
Blenders: Mix renewable fuels with gasoline or diesel, and
Exporters: Ship renewable fuels out of the United States
Each year, these parties must meet their Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) set by the EPA, which specify the required volume of renewable fuel to be blended into transportation fuel. The specific obligations of each party depend on their role within the renewable fuel supply chain.
At RINSTAR, we recognize that each obligated party has unique needs and responsibilities within this complex system. That’s why we offer customizable dashboards and compliance tools that display the information most relevant to your specific needs. Whether you’re a refiner, importer, or blender, we can tailor your experience to provide a clear and concise overview of what your specific RFS obligations are – contact us today!