EIA: Ethanol capacity expands slightly in December, biodiesel and renewable diesel capacity unchanged

BY Erin Krueger

Total operable U.S. biofuel capacity expanded to 25.323 billion gallons per year in December with gains for ethanol, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration on Feb. 27. Capacity was up 19 MMgy when compared to the previous month and up 269 MMgy when compared to December 2024.

The 25.323 billion gallons of capacity reported for December included 18.351 billion gallons of ethanol capacity, 1.958 billion gallons of biodiesel capacity and 5.014 billion gallons of capacity for renewable diesel and associated biofuels, defined to include renewable heating oil, renewable jet fuel, renewable naphtha, renewable gasoline and other biofuels and biointermediates.

The 18.351 billion gallons in ethanol capacity in place as of December 2025 was up 19 MMgy when compared to November and up 29 MMgy when compared to December of the previous year. 

The 1.958 billion gallons in biodiesel capacity reported for December was unchanged when compared to the previous month, but down 37 MMgy when compared to December 2024. 

The 5.014 billion gallons of capacity for renewable diesel and associated fuels reported for December was also unchanged when compared to November, but up 296 MMgy when compared to December of the previous year. 

This article has been republished from The Ethanol Producers Magazine.