Relating to mass balance attribution of renewable biomass feedstocks used to produce renewable chemicals.

New renewable chemical rules for Texas producers

Beginning September 1, 2025, Texas law defines which materials and products qualify as renewable biomass and renewable chemicals. Biomass includes organic matter available on a renewable or recurring basis from nonfederal land or Indian trust or restricted land. Examples include crops, trees, algae, microorganisms, crop and wood waste, animal waste, food and yard waste, plant-based waste oils, municipal solid waste, and wastewater-treatment waste. Certain forest materials, young-tree thinnings, and invasive species from national forests or public lands also qualify. They must come from preventive treatments addressing fire fuels, disease, insects, or ecosystem health, and not otherwise serve higher-value uses. Harvesting must follow applicable laws, land-management plans, and old-growth and large-tree protections. Renewable chemicals include monomers, polymers, plastics, formulated products, and chemical substances made from qualifying biomass or certified through an identified third-party mass-balance system. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality must identify these certification systems by rule and adopt implementation rules as soon as practicable after the effective date. The law provides no household payment.