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119-hr-8536119th CongressWALLET

Fuel STAR Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Arrington, Jodey C. [R-TX-19]

Introduced

Summary

Caps growth of non-advanced biofuels by tying yearly volumes to the Energy Information Administration's Annual Energy Outlook projections. It also creates a detailed small-refinery exemption process and changes rules so E15 (10–15% ethanol) can be sold year-round by aligning Reid vapor pressure limits.

Show full summary
  • Drivers can buy E15 gasoline year-round because the bill aligns Reid vapor pressure limits for 10–15% ethanol blends.
  • Certain small refineries that average 10,000 barrels per day or less and started production on or after January 1, 2007 can seek exemptions using new hardship criteria. Exemptions are capped at 75,000 barrels per day or 50% of a refinery group's production and cannot be reallocated to other refineries.
  • The bill caps the applicable volume for non-advanced biofuels each year at the lower of the current applicable volume or the Energy Information Administration's projected ethanol consumption. It also lets credits from 2020–2022 be used for up to five years with a 20% limit and bars the Administrator from requiring electric credits (e-RINs).

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Allow year‑round E15 gasoline sales

This bill would change RVP rules so gasoline blends that contain more than 10 percent and not more than 15 percent ethanol face the same vapor pressure limit as 10 percent ethanol. If enacted, that alignment would allow year‑round sales of E15 gasoline upon enactment. More drivers would have access to E15, which can be a lower‑cost fuel option where retailers offer it.

Reuse old biofuel credits; ban e‑RIN

This bill would let renewable‑fuel compliance credits from calendar years 2020, 2021, or 2022 be used in any of the five calendar years after enactment. In any year, no more than 20 percent of the credits you use to show compliance could come from those years. The bill would also prohibit the EPA Administrator from requiring use of an electric credit (an e‑RIN) in the specified RFS compliance rules. These changes would give obligated parties more credit flexibility and limit one possible future compliance tool.

Expanded small refinery exemptions with caps

This bill would add a pathway for small refineries that average 10,000 barrels per day or less and began production on or after January 1, 2007 to get RFS exemptions or extensions. The Department of Energy would use two indexes and a value of at least 1 on either index would create a presumption favoring grant. If the EPA does not give a legal‑basis denial within 90 days, the petition would be considered granted. At the same time, a holding company's total exempted volume could not exceed 75,000 barrels per day or 50 percent of its refineries' production (whichever is greater). The bill would also bar reallocating an exempted refinery's obligation to other refineries.

Cap conventional ethanol blending volumes

This bill would limit the yearly RFS applicable volume for renewable fuel that is not an advanced biofuel to the EIA's projected annual domestic consumption of ethanol‑blended fuel for that year. The rule would start with the first calendar year after enactment and apply each year after. This would constrain required conventional ethanol blending volumes and change RIN demand, lowering some refiners' compliance obligations while also limiting market demand for ethanol producers.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Arrington, Jodey C. [R-TX-19]

TX • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Moran, Nathaniel [R-TX-1]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 4/28/2026

  • Rep. Tiffany, Thomas P. [R-WI-7]

    WI • R

    Sponsored 5/7/2026

  • Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN-3]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 5/12/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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