7 Key Takeaways from the 2026 Clean Fuels Conference

The US clean fuels industry gathered in Orlando last week for the annual Clean Fuels Conference at a moment of real inflection. With record-high proposed mandates on the table, evolving federal tax incentives, and mounting pressure on feedstock markets, the conversations reflected an industry that is no longer debating whether clean fuels matter. Instead, the discussion is on how they scale next.

Across policy briefings, technical sessions, and side-room discussions, a few themes surfaced again and again:

• Optimism Around Near-Term Growth

• Urgency Around Regulatory Clarity

• Carbon Intensity, Traceability, and Operational Realities

From renewable diesel and biodiesel to SAF and marine fuels, the conference highlighted both the momentum behind clean fuels and the challenges that still need to be navigated.

Below, we’ve summarized the key takeaways from Clean Fuels Orlando:

• What industry participants learned

• What questions remain unresolved

• What these signals may mean for the year ahead

1. Clean fuels are no longer niche. They’re entering real growth mode.

Speakers, including Clean Fuels Alliance America leadership, emphasized that biodiesel, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) are shifting from emerging alternatives to mission-critical components of energy infrastructure. The industry is crossing thresholds, with these fuels increasingly integrated into mainstream transport and energy planning.

Read More: Biofuels Are No Longer the Future… They’re the Present

2. Unity across the value chain matters for momentum.

Another recurring theme across presentations was alignment.

Producers, marketers, agricultural suppliers, and even traditional energy players are finding common ground on key policy goals. Industry leaders noted that collective focus on shared objectives, such as Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) and improved credits, has yielded stronger advocacy power than fragmented positions.

3. Policy progress creates both opportunity and challenge.

Discussion around US policy, particularly 45Z tax credits and proposed increases in biomass-based diesel RVOs, dominated the regulatory sessions. While the “paper runway” of proposed mandates and Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) exclusions offers optimism, participants stressed that final rules and implementation timelines remain critical for translating commitments into production growth.

4. Feedstock pressures are real and shaping strategies.

Sessions on feedstock dynamics confirmed that tight supplies of traditional inputs (vegetable oils, animal fats, UCO) are sharpening competitive pressures. Producers are increasingly looking at sustainability, traceability, and alternative pathways as feedstock markets tighten and compliance requirements evolve.

Read More: Feedstock Fundamentals: What Are Biofuels Made From?

5. The marine and SAF sectors are gaining traction.

Panels highlighted emerging market opportunities beyond highway diesel, particularly in marine and SAF. With billions of gallons of fuel consumed annually, these sectors represent significant potential for biodiesel and renewable diesel growth as engine technology, certification, and infrastructure continue to evolve.

Read More: 2026 Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Market Outlook

6. Innovation is in motion, with real tech on display.

The Conference’s Vehicle Technology Showcase brought OEM partners (e.g., John Deere, Caterpillar) and fleets (e.g., Estes Express Lines) to spotlight real-world use cases of clean fuels in heavy-duty applications. These moves signal broader industrial confidence in the technologies leading renewable adoption.

7. Sustainability certification and trust remain priorities.

With growing demand for low-carbon fuels, discussions around sustainability verification and certification came to the forefront. Trustworthy carbon accounting and evolving regulatory frameworks were identified as key to market access and commercial growth.

Steady Progress Toward a Renewable Future

As all the panels and sessions highlighted across Clean Fuels, we're seeing tremendous progress in the pathway to a renewable future. Despite policy uncertainty and feedstock hurdles, the push toward biofuel adoption is full steam ahead.

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