Why It Matters
The Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas lobbied on the EPA Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), energy tax credits, and renewable natural gas (RNG) pipeline access in its 2026 third-quarter report, as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized volume requirements for 2026 and 2027 and the coalition had publicly opposed the proposal's reduced incentive for RNG.
Public Law 119-21 also extended the section 45Z clean fuel production credit through 2029, and Treasury published a proposed rule on that credit in February, keeping tax policy active alongside the RFS fight.
By the Numbers
The coalition's third-quarter 2026 in-house filing reported $180,000, with Geoff Dietz, the coalition's senior director, federal government affairs, as the sole lobbyist listed.
Two outside firms also filed third-quarter reports: Ardent Strategies LLC at $40,000, with lobbyist Anne Steckel, and Bracewell LLP at $50,000, with lobbyists Kimberly Pinter, Tim Urban, and Ihna Varner, bringing the combined third-quarter total to $270,000.
The in-house amount was unchanged from the second quarter of 2026 and from the third quarter of 2025. The combined $270,000 total has held steady across six consecutive quarters from the second quarter of 2025 through the third quarter of 2026.
Broader Context
EPA Renewable Fuel Standard
EPA finalized RFS volume and percentage requirements for 2026 and 2027 on March 27, including a 70 percent reallocation of small-refinery exemptions granted for 2023 through 2025.
When EPA proposed those requirements in June 2025, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins publicly backed the proposal, arguing it would strengthen U.S. energy security and give domestic biofuel producers investment certainty. The RNG Coalition and the National Waste and Recycling Association jointly opposed the proposal's reduced RNG incentive, arguing EPA improperly relied on transportation-demand projections and citing nearly 600 percent RNG production growth since 2015; the Center for Biological Diversity objected to increased crop-based biofuel volumes, warning that land conversion could threaten endangered-species habitat, while Earthjustice urged EPA to reassess land-use climate impacts and lower the volumes.
Energy Tax Credits
H.R. 2596, the Renewable Natural Gas Incentive Act of 2025, was introduced by Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and referred to the House Ways and Means Committee, with 10 cosponsors as of the filing date; its Senate companion, S. 1252, was introduced by Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) with Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) as an original cosponsor and referred to the Senate Finance Committee. H.R. 2596 remained in the House Ways and Means Committee as of the filing date.
Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service published a proposed rule on the section 45Z clean fuel production credit on Feb. 4, identifying it as applying to qualifying transportation fuel produced domestically and sold within the statutory period.
RNG Pipeline Access
A July 2025 American Gas Foundation supply assessment, conducted with the global consultancy firm ICF, examined RNG supply potential, greenhouse-gas reduction potential, production costs, and technological barriers, presenting RNG as a pipeline-quality gas interchangeable with conventional natural gas and examining ways to reduce or eliminate development barriers.
The Bottom Line
The coalition's combined spend has held flat across every quarter in the evidence, with the same three registrants engaged throughout.
EPA has finalized Renewable Fuel Standard volume and percentage requirements for 2026 and 2027, Treasury and the IRS have published a proposed rule on the section 45Z clean fuel production credit. H.R. 2596 remained in the House Ways and Means Committee as of the filing date, while its Senate companion, S. 1252, was referred to the Senate Finance Committee.
Access the Legis1 platform for comprehensive political news, data, and insights
Spot something wrong? Report an issue with this article
