Public comment is now open for Renewable Fuel Standard proposed administrative rule changes

These changes seek to align Portland's carbon intensity (CI) requirement with new Oregon DEQ Clean Fuels Program modeling changes. In May 2026, the City of Portland passed an emergency rule change which gave the City 180 days to work with stakeholders to advance permanent rule changes. These proposed rule changes make the emergency rule changes adopted in May permanent and effectively increase the carbon intensity (CI) requirement from 40 gCO2e/MJ to 46 gCO2e/MJ.

Additional minor rule changes include adding a new section for Biofuel Carbon Intensity Standards and reorganized existing content under the new section, added a definition of Carbon Intensity Standard to support the new section, and expanded the definition of emergency equipment to cover equipment used to clear road hazards during winter weather emergencies.

What is the RFS and what has changed?

The RFS regulates the volume of low-carbon biofuels blended with gasoline and diesel fuel sold in the city of Portland. Its intent is to phase out petroleum diesel and replace it with 50% renewable fuel this year, and 99% renewable fuel in 2030. Portland's policy uniquely includes a lifecycle carbon intensity (CI) requirement that limits fuels to 40g CO2e/MJ or less to ensure that more renewable fuels sold in Oregon will be lower carbon across their entire lifecycle.

Portland relies on Oregon DEQ certifications of lifecycle carbon intensity to determine compliance with the RFS CI requirement. Oregon DEQ now requires fuel importers to begin using OR-GREET model 4.0 (instead of version 3.0) to demonstrate the lifecycle CI of fuels. The modeling change increases the operational CI value for all biodiesel and renewable diesel fuel products by an average of 5.5g CO2e/MJ. DEQ's modeling change would have impacted Portland's fuel supply as some products that had been previously allowed would now be disallowed.

Portland supports the DEQ model change because it improves the accuracy of accounting for lifecycle carbon emissions. However, since the modeling change created an across-the-board increase in carbon emissions for all fuels, the City's goal for this rule change is to ensure that fuel products approved by City Council under GREET Model 3.0 are still allowed under Model 4.0. To meet this goal, Portland proposes to allow an additional 6g CO2e/MJ for products with CI values generated by GREET model 4.0. This rule change effectively increases the CI requirement from 40 gCO2e/MJ to 46 gCO2e/MJ.

Submit public comment on the proposed administrative rule