EPA Tightens the Rules on RNG Tracking

The Environmental Protection Agency finalized its 2026-2027 Renewable Fuel Standard on March 27, 2026, introducing tighter procedures for renewable natural gas batch tracking and RIN generation that will reshape compliance obligations for biogas producers across the country

Cellulosic biofuel volumes are set at 1.36 billion RINs in 2026 and 1.43 billion in 2027. RNG accounts for roughly 91 percent of those volumes. For producers, the implication is clear: the regulatory architecture now rests almost entirely on their ability to generate and verify credits with precision

Four procedural changes stand out. The rule sharpens the definition of an RNG batch, closing reporting inconsistencies that had persisted across the industry. It mandates that RINs be generated within five business days of meeting production requirements. Quarterly verification reports covering RIN volumes, biogas energy content, and pathway data are now required at registration. Annual attest audits add a further layer of accountability

The overlap with California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard makes the compliance calendar particularly demanding. Under CA-GREET 4.0, effective in 2026, CARB links avoided methane crediting to certification dates. Projects certified before July 2025 qualify for three ten-year crediting periods. Treasury's February 2026 proposed regulations on Section 45Z further clarified that RNG producers are entities performing the substantive upgrading of raw biogas

The EPA also removed renewable electricity from the RFS, eliminating an alternative revenue path for biogas-to-power projects. The RNG Coalition welcomed the higher volumes but cautioned that the D3 targets may underestimate actual production capacity. As hundreds of RNG facilities remain under construction, tightened batch-level compliance signals the agency's intent to protect credit integrity across a rapidly scaling domestic industry