do not consume coal for electricity generation anymore, meaning electric power sector CO2 emissions have declined since 2005.
In 2023, the electric power sector was the leading source of CO2 emissions in 18 states. Most of these states, such as Pennsylvania, Alabama, and Wyoming, are net electricity suppliers to other states. Many of these states also generate a large share of their electricity from coal. West Virginia, Wyoming, Kentucky, Missouri, and North Dakota each generated over half of their in-state electricity from coal in 2023.
The industrial sector, which includes manufacturing and agriculture, accounted for the largest share of CO2 emissions in four states in 2023. Large oil, natural gas, and refining industries in Texas, Louisiana, and Alaska and large agriculture and biofuels production industries in Iowa contribute to higher industrial emissions in these states. U. S. industrial sector CO2 emissions are concentrated in a handful of states. The five states with the highest industrial CO2 emissions accounted for over half of the U. S. total in 2023.
Nationwide, the electric power sector accounted for the largest share of CO2 emissions in the United States until 2016, when the transportation sector surpassed it. U. S. total CO2 emissions peaked for both the electric power and transportation sectors in 2007. CO2 emissions in the electric power sector have declined faster than in the transportation sector since 2007 because the electricity generation fuel mix has shifted away from coal and toward natural gas, wind, and solar. Since 2007, the transportation fuel mix has remained relatively steady despite increased electric vehicle sales and less petroleum transportation fuel demand since the COVID-19 pandemic.
� CLEAN FUELS HAILS EPA PROPOSAL TO REALLOCATE EXEMPTED RFS GALLONS
Clean Fuels Alliance America welcomed EPA’ s Supplemental Notice on Renewable Fuel Standards for 2026 and 2027. Clean Fuels commended EPA for proposing to add a supplemental“ SRE reallocation volume” to the 2026 and 2027 RFS volumes to account for the impact of small refinery exemptions granted on August 22. Additionally, the Alliance noted, EPA is updating its estimate of 2026 and 2027 exempted volumes of gasoline and diesel, which will be included in calculating the RFS percentage obligations for those years.
Kurt Kovarik, Clean Fuels’ Vice President of Federal Affairs, said in a Sept. 16 statement,“ Clean Fuels commends EPA for proposing to ensure that the RFS volumes it finalizes for upcoming years are not eroded by small refinery exemptions. U. S. biodiesel and renewable diesel production supports ten percent of the value of every bushel of soybeans grown here. It is one bright spot in the agricultural economy this year. Clean Fuels and its members will work to ensure that the final RFS volumes for 2026 and 2027 fully support continued growth in biomass-based diesel production and provide real value for farmers.”
Specifically, EPA is co-proposing a supplemental“ SRE reallocation volume” of either 2.18 billion gallons( 100 % of the 2023-25 exemptions) or 1.09 billion gallons( 50 %). The agency is taking comment on other volumes. EPA is also proposing an estimated 5.95 billion gallons of exempted gasoline and diesel for both 2026 and 2027 to be included in the RVO calculation. In its June Proposed Renewable Fuel Standards for 2026 and 2027, EPA estimated a range between 0 and 18 billion gallons.
Kovarik continued,“ Farmers, biodiesel and renewable diesel producers still need to fight to secure robust RFS volumes for next year. We look forward to working with EPA to finalize today’ s proposal as soon as possible to ensure market certainty for farmers and producers.”
Clean Fuels Alliance America is a trade association representing the biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel supply chain, including producers, feedstock suppliers and fuel distributors. It receives funding from private companies and associations, including the United Soybean Board and state checkoff organizations. l FON
8 OCTOBER 2025 | FUEL OIL NEWS | www. fueloilnews. com