U.S. fuel retailers question impact of proposed clean fuel credit
NATSO, SIGMA and NACS urge regulators to prioritize pump prices and transparency in biofuel policy.
U.S. fuel retail and marketing groups have raised concerns over the proposed implementation of the Section 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit, arguing that current rules fail to deliver measurable benefits to consumers or farmers.
NATSO, which represents truck stops and travel centers, together with SIGMA: America’s Leading Fuel Marketers and the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), submitted public comments to the Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service outlining their position on the proposed regulations.
“The real-world implications on American energy supplies and the price that consumers pay at the pump should serve as the regulatory North Star of biofuel policy,” the groups said in a joint statement. “Gasoline prices are one of the most visible, tangible ways consumers experience inflation in the U.S. economy.”
The associations warned that higher diesel costs ripple through the economy, raising prices for food, medicine, and household goods transported by truck. According to the statement, the Section 45Z credit has not meaningfully addressed those pressures.
To address what they called structural shortcomings, the organizations urged Treasury to finalize rules requiring transparent disclosure of credit values throughout the fuel supply chain, allowing the economic benefit of the credit to reach consumers at the pump rather than being absorbed elsewhere.
The groups also called on Congress to quickly reinstate the Biodiesel Blenders’ Tax Credit, describing it as a proven tool to support soybean demand and stabilize diesel prices.
