EPA Denies Small Refinery Exemptions to Blending Ethanol

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its decision to deny petitions for small refinery exemptions (SREs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The Monday announcement was met with praise from the agricultural industry. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler says the agency is following the “rule-of-law and ensuring 15 billion gallons are blended into the nation’s fuel supply.” Under the Clean Air Act, EPA must set an annual level of biofuels to be blended into the nation’s fuel system, to promote cleaner air. Ethanol is the primary source of these biofuels, though a good amount does come from soy biodiesel. EPA, under law, is allowed to grant exemptions from blending requirements under the RFS for economic hardship. The denied requests for waivers were for the past 3-10 years and all of the refineries that submitted a claim have shown profitability since the original date of concern. An appeals court ruled back in January that any waivers granted to small refiners, after 2010, should only be extensions, not new waivers.
(SOURCE: All Ag News)