Fuel STAR Act of 2026

Bill Number

H.R. 8536

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Energy

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-04-28: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Last Updated

2026-05-19T20:24:56Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Fuel and Strengthen the American Refinery Act of 2026 (Fuel STAR Act) aims to reform the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) under the Clean Air Act. The RFS requires fuel producers to blend increasing amounts of renewable fuels (like ethanol) into gasoline and diesel. This bill limits certain biofuel mandates, eases exemptions for small refineries facing economic hardship, extends the usability of certain compliance credits, and allows year-round sales of E15 fuel (gasoline with 10-15% ethanol).

Key Provisions

• Limits on Non-Advanced Biofuel Volumes:
• Caps the annual volume of renewable fuel (excluding advanced biofuels like cellulosic ethanol) at the projected U.S. domestic consumption of ethanol-blended fuel, as forecasted in the Energy Information Administration's (EIA) latest Annual Energy Outlook report.

• Compliance Credits (RINs):
• Credits generated in 2020-2022 can be used for compliance over the next 5 years after enactment, but no more than 20% of a company's annual compliance credits can come from these older ones.
• Prohibits the EPA from requiring "e-RINs" (credits for electric vehicles) in regulations.

• Small Refinery Exemptions:
• Expands eligibility to small refineries (under 10,000 barrels of crude oil per day average) that started production after January 1, 2007.
• Updates economic hardship criteria, including:
• Cost-to-revenue ratios for refineries owned by holding companies.
• Potential loss of efficiency gains or refinery closure.
• State regulations or investments in biofuel blending infrastructure.
• EPA must respond to exemption petitions within 90 days; no response means automatic approval.
• Automatic approval if the Department of Energy (DOE) finds the refinery's "disproportionate impacts index" or "viability index" (from a 2011 DOE study) is 1 or higher.
• Limits exemptions for holding company-owned refineries to avoid exceeding 75,000 barrels/day or 50% of their total capacity.
• Exempted refineries' fuel obligations cannot be reassigned to others.

• Year-Round E15 Sales:
• Treats E15 the same as E10 (10% ethanol gasoline) under Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) limits, which control fuel evaporation to reduce summer smog. This removes seasonal restrictions on E15 sales.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Volume Caps: Introduces a hard cap on conventional biofuels (mostly corn ethanol) tied to EIA projections, overriding prior EPA adjustment mechanisms.
• Exemptions: Broadens and automates small refinery relief (previously limited to pre-2002 refineries or case-by-case), adds DOE input, and prevents obligation reallocation.
• Credits: Extends old RINs and bans e-RIN mandates, altering compliance flexibility.
• E15 Rules: Eliminates summer RVP restrictions for E15, enabling nationwide year-round availability.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: Increases EPA workload for petitions and responses; requires coordination with DOE and EIA for data and determinations.
• Citizens/Consumers: Could lower fuel prices by reducing blending mandates; expands E15 access, potentially increasing choices at pumps but raising concerns about vehicle compatibility.
• Industry: Eases costs for small refineries; may reduce demand for biofuels, affecting ethanol markets.
• International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though lower biofuel demand could influence U.S. corn exports to biofuel-producing countries.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Small Refineries: Major beneficiaries through easier exemptions.
• Large Refineries/Holding Companies: Limited relief to prevent overuse.
• Biofuel Producers (e.g., ethanol from corn): Face volume caps, potentially reducing market demand.
• Farmers: Indirectly hit via lower ethanol needs, affecting corn prices.
• EPA and DOE: New procedural and analytical duties.
• Consumers and Fuel Retailers: Gain from E15 flexibility and possible lower costs.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Relies on EPA's existing RFS authority but mandates specific caps and processes, potentially inviting lawsuits over statutory interpretation or arbitrary decision-making (e.g., automatic approvals).
• Constitutional: No direct challenges noted; amendments fit Congress's commerce clause powers over energy policy.
• Political: Shifts policy balance toward oil refineries from biofuels, favoring fossil fuels amid debates on energy independence, climate goals, and rural economies. References 2011 DOE study standardize hardship evaluations.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

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

Cosponsors (3)

Rep. Moran, Nathaniel [R-TX-1], Rep. Tiffany, Thomas P. [R-WI-7], Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN-3]

Recent Actions

• 2026-04-28: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
• 2026-04-28: Introduced in House
• 2026-04-28: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Fuel and Strengthen the American Refinery Act of 2026 — issued 2026-04-28 — PDF (10 pages)