Biodiesel producers are just as happy as ethanol producers with the EPA decision to deny retroactive small refinery exemption petitions.

National Biodiesel Board VP of Federal Affairs Kurt Kovarik says the move will restore integrity to the Renewable Fuel Standard and provide much-needed certainty for America’s biodiesel producers and soybean farmers. “The decision to deny these absurd petitions filed by refiners simply to skirt their obligations under the law is the right call. I am hopeful EPA will continue to apply this standard to the remaining gap exemptions and to future petitions. We look forward to working with the administration to restore growth in the biodiesel and renewable diesel industry and ensure that RFS volumes for biomass-based diesel are met.”

Kovarik added that the industry is particularly grateful to those who effectively sought a resolution to these unlawful waivers, including Sens. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds.

Grant Kimberley, executive director of the Iowa Biodiesel Board, said, “With those waivers denied, and assuming EPA applies the recent court ruling nationwide, the exemption issue we have battled for so long should significantly improve. This turnaround would set the RFS on the right track again.”