RFS Mandates Inflate Diesel Prices, Critics Say

The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program has been in place since 2005 and was expanded in 2007. It requires a certain volume of renewable fuel to be used in the transportation fuel supply, often fulfilled by converting crops like corn or soybeans into ethanol. The Environmental Protection Agency sets annual Renewable Volume Obligations (RVO), which measure compliance through Renewable Identification Numbers (RIN), credits that are generated, bought and/or traded.

The RFS has been criticized for increasing prices for conventional gasoline, but its impact on diesel is often overlooked. Kristen Walker notes that the price of diesel fuel has increased significantly due to the RFS mandates. In a recent article, Walker stated, 'The well-intentioned Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is one such program that has complicated transportation fuels.'

Walker points out that the RFS requires a certain volume of renewable fuel to be used in the transportation fuel supply, which can lead to increased costs for diesel producers. The article mentions that the price for diesel fuel is displayed on a pump at a gas station on Sept. 4, 2026, in Dickson, Tenn.