Renewable Fuel for Ocean-Going Vessels Act

The Renewable Fuel for Ocean-Going Vessels Act would expand the Renewable Fuel Standard by adding “fuel for ocean-going vessels” to the set of fossil fuels that can be counted toward renewable fuel credits. In practical terms, this means that renewable fuels used in or for ocean-going vessel transportation could generate Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) under the program, potentially incentivizing the development and use of renewable fuels in shipping. The change would take effect in the second calendar year after enactment, with EPA guidance and implementation rules to be issued within a year of enactment and a follow-up report to Congress within a year after those regulations are finalized. The bill’s short title is the “Renewable Fuel for Ocean-Going Vessels Act.” For context, the bill modifies the Clean Air Act’s definition related to renewable fuels to explicitly include fuel for ocean-going vessels, aligning maritime fuels with the program’s credit-generating framework, subject to EPA rulemaking and reporting processes. Note on timing: Given the bill’s introduction in March 2025, the regulatory requirements would be due by March 2026, and the second calendar year after enactment (when the change applies) would be 2027.