Jodey Arrington Pushes Back on EPA Rules to Keep Energy Costs Low

When it comes to fighting for Texas families and businesses, Congressman Jodey Arrington is once again right in the middle of the action. This week in Washington, the House Budget Chairman from right here in West Texas teamed up with fellow Texan August Pfluger (R–TX-11) to lead the entire Texas Republican delegation in a push to stop what they call overreach from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

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A Letter to the EPA

Arrington, Pfluger, and more than 40 of their colleagues sent a letter straight to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, urging him to change course on the agency’s 2026 and 2027 Renewable Volume Obligations (RVO) rule.

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The concern? Without changes, they say the rule could drive up fuel prices, threaten U.S. refinery jobs, and even put America’s energy security at risk.

“To maintain the viability of the liquid fuel manufacturing industry and keep energy costs low for American consumers and businesses, it is critical the EPA modifies its June 2025 proposed rule on Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs),” the letter reads.

What Arrington and Pfluger Want Changed

The Texas-led coalition laid out a few key recommendations for Administrator Zeldin, including:

• Aligning RVO volumes with real market conditions so the standards are actually achievable.

• Protecting refiners by preventing compliance burdens from being shifted unfairly onto bigger facilities when exemptions are granted to smaller ones.

• Keeping imported renewable fuels competitive by maintaining full Renewable Identification Number (RIN) values.

Industry Backing

This push isn’t just coming from lawmakers. Some of the biggest voices in the energy industry are sounding the alarm too.

The Texas Oil & Gas Association (TXOGA), the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Association (LMOGA), and the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers all back the effort.

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Chet Thompson, who heads up the refineries’ trade group, put it bluntly:
“If the EPA’s proposed rule on the 2026 and 2027 RVOs is finalized, it will put American consumers on the hook for a $70 billion RFS bill and require Americans to pay for more biofuel feedstock imports into the United States.”

Why It Matters in West Texas

For us here in West Texas and the Permian Basin, energy isn’t just about politics—it’s our livelihood. Arrington says this fight is about making sure Texas producers stay competitive, American families don’t get stuck with higher gas prices, and the U.S. keeps its energy independence strong.