FEATURED NEWS
� NEFI HIGHLIGHTS FEATURES OF PROPOSED RULE FOR 45Z CLEAN FUEL PRODUCTION CREDIT
The U. S. Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service released a proposed rule implementing the Section 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit.“ The proposed rule provides much-needed regulatory clarity for the biofuels industry after more than a year of uncertainty and includes a major victory for NEFI and heating fuel marketers,” the National Energy & Fuels Institute said in its newsletter to members.
The Section 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit was created under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. The newsletter, NEFI Online Energy News, reported that 45Z was intended to replace all federal tax credits for renewable and alternative fuels, including the biodiesel and renewable diesel blenders’ tax credit under Section 40A of the Internal Revenue Code. The 45Z credit was then modified under the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act( OBBBA) of 2025 and was one of the only renewable or alternative energy provisions – other than nuclear – to have been preserved, demonstrating strong support from the Trump Administration and Congress for biofuels, the newsletter explained, adding:
“ Since the 45Z credit was first proposed in 2022, NEFI has advocated that qualifying low-carbon fuels must be eligible regardless of their downstream end use, including in space and water heating applications. The proposed rule explicitly adopts this position, stating that‘ actual use as a fuel in a highway vehicle or aircraft is not required.’
“ In practical terms,” the newsletter said,“ this means that renewable fuels, including biodiesel and renewable diesel, that meet ASTM specifications will qualify for the credit regardless of whether the fuel ends up in a truck, boiler, backhoe, or
FEATURED NEWS
• NEFI Highlights Features of Proposed Rule for 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit
• DOT Moves to Shut Hundreds of CDL Training Schools
• Merchants’ Group Welcomes Court Ruling in Favor of Ban on Swipe Fees
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HVAC / HYDRONICS – pg. 20
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fishing boat.”
NEFI President and CEO Jim Collura said,“ This proposed rule is a significant step forward and should help restore confidence in the biofuels and downstream wholesale, retail, and consumer markets after a difficult transition period. The 45Z credit is vastly improved from what was originally enacted in 2022 and we are optimistic it will support renewed growth in biofuels production and adoption.”
The proposed rule is subject to a 60-day public comment period closing April 6, 2026. Treasury will host a public hearing on May 28, 2026, at 10:00 a. m. ET. NEFI says it will submit formal comments and participate in the hearing, seeking to ensure the final rule reflects the priorities of heating fuel marketers.
This news item is reprinted from the Feb. 10 issue of NEFI’ s newsletter, NEON. It has been edited for clarity and length.
� DOT MOVES TO SHUT HUNDREDS OF CDL TRAINING SCHOOLS
U. S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced Feb. 18 that more than 550 CDL training schools found in violation of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration( FMCSA)’ s standards of safety received notices of proposed removal from FMCSA’ s national training provider registry. FMCSA mobilized
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more than 300 investigators across 50 states to conduct over 1,400 sting operations. Noncompliant schools lacked qualified instructors, used fake addresses, and failed to properly train drivers on the transportation of hazardous materials, among other violations. One school removed for violating safety standards had previously provided training for school bus drivers.
“ For too long, the trucking industry has operated like the Wild, Wild West, where anything goes and nobody asks any questions. The buck stops with me. Under President Trump, my team is cracking down on every link in the trucking chain that has allowed this lawlessness to impact the safety of America’ s roads. American families should have confidence that our school bus and truck drivers are following every letter of the law and that starts with receiving proper training before getting behind the wheel,” said Duffy.
Over the course of five days, the
6 MARCH 2026 | FUEL OIL NEWS | www. fueloilnews. com