Summer 2026 has been a busy one in the Renewable Fuel space, including multiple changes to report forms, major updates to EMTS (EPA’s Moderated Transaction System), as well as final rulings on long-awaited regulatory decisions.
Let’s dive a little deeper into those topics, in chronological order:
March 2026:
The EPA finalized its “Set 2” RFS rule, establishing the 2026 and 2027 Renewable Volume Obligations (RVO). This rule calls for a nearly 60% increase from 2025. For RINSTAR customers, this directly affects RIN demand, pricing, inventory strategy, compliance planning and more. In this same ruling, the EPA changed the Biomass-Based Diesel requirements to RINs, instead of physical gallons. Also notable was the removal of renewable electricity as a qualifying renewable fuel, therefore slashing the possibility of e-RINs.
More information can be found here: https://www.epa.gov/renewable-fuel-standard/final-renewable-fuel-standards-2026-and-2027
June 2026:
Two important RFS reporting forms were updated by the EPA.
- RFS0108 (previously RFS0107) RIN Activity Report no longer requires the EPA registered entity to report the Volume of Renewable Fuel Owned at the End of the Quarter.
- RFS0903 (previously RFS0902) Production Outlook Report converts the first-year Production Outlook from a 12-month forecast to an annual forecast.
At RINSTAR, you can rest assured that we have the correct report forms available in your RINSTAR Member Dashboard for easy review, download and submission well before report deadlines.
Report information: https://www.epa.gov/fuels-registration-reporting-and-compliance-help/who-must-report-list-report-forms
July 2026:
EPA released EMTS v.9.4.0, which contains significant changes to remedial action and remedial trade processing, as well as XML processing, Excel conversion templates, transaction-matching logic and more. RINSTAR developers made quick work out of getting our systems up-to-date within 24 hours of the release, so that our clients could continue business as usual.
Release notes: https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2026-07/emts-release-notes-v9-4-0.pdf
August 2026:
Small refinery exemptions were decided upon for 2023, 2024, and 2025, causing what will likely go down in history as one of the biggest disruptions to the RIN market ever. Decisions for 40 SREs were announced by the end of August, along with the announcement that the EPA intends to reallocate 100% of the difference between projected and actual 2025 SRE volumes into 2026 and 2027 RVOs. We can expect to see this proposal by the end of October 2026.
Keeping up with all the changes and announcements is no easy feat, which is just one reason our RINSTAR clients choose us for compliance guidance and RIN management. Whether you are new to the RFS game, or wanting extra eyes on all the regulatory and systems updates, we would love to discuss how RINSTAR can make your job easier.
Ready to streamline your compliance?