The states of Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, South Dakota, and Virginia have jointly filed an amicus curiae brief in the Supreme Court case supporting the position of the Biofuels Coalition made up of the Renewable Fuels Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Farmers Union, and American Coalition for Ethanol.

The Coalition welcomed the support from the states, as well as other biofuel and agriculture groups that have filed amicus briefings in support of them in the case HollyFrontier Cheyenne Refining, LLC, et al., v. Renewable Fuels Association, et al.

Recognizing that “the renewable fuel and agriculture industries are the cornerstone of the economies of many states,” today’s brief from the states concludes that “the judgment of the court of appeals should be affirmed.”

“These industries—and the rural economies that they anchor—have grown over the past 16 years in reliance on the promise of the Renewable Fuel Standard,” according to the states’ brief. “And all States have an interest in the environmental benefits and energy independence that the RFS promises to achieve. But the Environmental Protection Agency’s recent trend of freely granting small-refinery exemptions has undermined these promises.”

In the latest Ethanol Report podcast, RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper said the Supreme Court is expected to hear oral arguments on the case at the end of April. “And that keeps us on track for hopefully a decision sometime by the middle of summer at the very latest.”