The Renewable Fuel for Ocean-Going Vessels Act would clear a major roadblock by allowing U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel producers to meet the needs of ocean-going vessels while preserving RFS credits. It would expand agricultural marketplaces, enhance American energy security, and create parity for maritime fuels with over-the-road and aviation fuel types in the Renewable Fuel Standard.
Introduce and support bipartisan legislation to allow biodiesel and renewable diesel used in ocean-going vessels to qualify under the Renewable Fuel Standard and preserve Renewable Identification Number credits.
Occurrences
Evidence
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Ricketts' Senate issue page says he is working to level the playing field for biofuels and supports legislation to make renewable fuels more available, but it does not identify ocean-going-vessel RFS/RIN legislation.
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Ricketts' Senate energy page describes support for ethanol, year-round E15, high biodiesel volumes, and advanced fuel technologies such as sustainable aviation fuel; it does not mention ocean-going vessels or RIN preservation.
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Ricketts' official Legislation page directs users to Congress.gov lists for his sponsored and co-sponsored legislation; the reviewed official and web searches did not surface a matching ocean-going-vessel RFS/RIN bill.
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Searches of GovInfo-indexed bill and government-record text for Ricketts with Renewable Fuel Standard, biodiesel, renewable diesel, RIN credits, and ocean-going vessels returned no matching bill text or enacted provision.
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Congress.gov is the official source for federal sponsored and co-sponsored legislation. Targeted web searches of Congress.gov bill records for Ricketts plus the promised RFS, biodiesel, renewable diesel, RIN, and ocean-going-vessel terms did not identify a matching measure.
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AP reported that Ricketts was sworn in as U.S. senator on January 23, 2023, replacing Ben Sasse, and would serve until a 2024 special election for the remainder of the term.
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Congress.gov lists S.881, Renewable Fuel for Ocean-Going Vessels Act, sponsored by Sen. Pete Ricketts and introduced 03/06/2025. Its official title is: A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to include fuel for ocean-going vessels as additional renewable fuel for which credits may be generated under the renewable fuel program. The page lists Amy Klobuchar as a Democratic cosponsor and a 09/10/2025 Environment and Public Works hearing.
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Ricketts' Senate office announced that Senators Pete Ricketts and Amy Klobuchar introduced the Renewable Fuel for Ocean-Going Vessels Act. The release says the bipartisan bill would allow companies to preserve Renewable Identification Number credits under the Renewable Fuel Standard when the fuel is used in ocean-going vessels, and says the measure would allow RINs associated with biodiesel and renewable diesel used in ocean-going vessels to be used or sold.
Assessments
Ricketts fulfilled the specific promise during his Senate term by introducing S.881, the Renewable Fuel for Ocean-Going Vessels Act, on March 6, 2025, with Democratic cosponsor Amy Klobuchar. The bill directly matches the promised action: allowing biodiesel and renewable diesel used in ocean-going vessels to qualify for Renewable Fuel Standard credit treatment and preserving Renewable Identification Number credits. Because the promise was to introduce and support bipartisan legislation, not necessarily secure enactment, introduction with bipartisan support is sufficient for delivery.
The promise was specific: Ricketts would introduce and support bipartisan legislation changing Renewable Fuel Standard/RIN treatment for biodiesel and renewable diesel used in ocean-going vessels. The evidence shows general biofuels advocacy, but no identified Congress.gov or GovInfo bill record in which Ricketts introduced, sponsored, co-sponsored, or materially advanced matching legislation during his Senate service through July 1, 2026. General support for renewable fuels does not deliver the promised specific legislative action.