NOPA Advocates for Sustainable Biofuel Growth in Oregon’s Clean Fuels Program

For Immediate Release: November 21, 2024
Contact: news@nopa.org

WASHINGTON, November 21, 2024 – The National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA) today submitted comments to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) 2024 Clean Fuels Program (CFP) rulemaking, emphasizing the association’s commitment to enacting policies that will address climate change while expanding the use of soy-based biofuels and market opportunities for soybean farmers

NOPA urged DEQ not to consider the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) proposed crop-based biofuel sustainability certification criteria. NOPA expressed concerns that the CARB proposal fails to account for the robust sustainability requirements already mandated by the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and could disadvantage low-deforestation-risk regions like the United States and Canada in favor of higher-risk regions.

“Not only is U.S. agriculture producing more with less and on fewer acres, it continues to do so at the lowest costs due to its comparative advantage in the world through our efficient bulk commodity, aggregation and transportation system. Layering additional cost and segregation on U.S. producers could have the effect of increasing demand for feedstocks from regions with the highest risk of deforestation,” NOPA President & CEO Kailee Tkacz Buller wrote.

NOPA members have made significant investments to meet demand for biofuels, food and feed, investing over $6 billion in soybean crushing capacity since 2021. These projects are on track to increase soybean crush capacity by over 30 percent between 2023-2026.

Read NOPA’s Comments: Department of Environmental Quality 2024 Clean Fuels Program Rulemaking (November 21, 2024)

Previous NOPA Comments to OR DEQ:
• NOPA Calls for Consistency Across Biofuel Feedstocks in Oregon Clean Fuels Program (July 31, 2024)
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Organized in 1930, the National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA) represents the U.S. soybean, canola, flaxseed, safflower seed, and sunflower seed-crushing industries. NOPA’s membership is engaged in the processing of oilseeds for meal and oil that are utilized in the manufacturing of food, feed, renewable fuels, and industrial products. Our 17 members operate over 70 U.S. soybean and softseed solvent extraction plants across 21 states, crushing approximately 97% of all soybeans processed in the United States, the equivalent to more than 2 billion bushels annually. More information at www.NOPA.org