Making the announcement Friday on Small Refinery Exemptions under the Renewable Fuel Standard, the Environmental Protection Agency also indicated it would propose a supplemental rule in the coming month to consider reallocating the associated RIN gallons and address the impact on the recently proposed 2026-2027 RFS volumes. Clean Fuels Alliance America hopes to work with EPA to quickly finalize this …
EPA Announces Decisions on Small Refinery Waivers
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today took action on the backlog of 175 Small Refinery Exemption (SRE) petitions from 38 small refineries for 2016 – 2024 compliance years. After carefully reviewing all information, EPA is granting full exemptions to 63 petitions, granting partial exemptions to 77 petitions, denying 28 petitions, and determining 7 petitions to be ineligible. EPA is …
RFA Supports EPA’s Proposed RFS Volumes
The Renewable Fuels Association submitted detailed comments to the Environmental Protection Agency this week expressing strong support for the agency’s proposed Renewable Fuel Standard volumes for 2026 and 2027, while also recommending slight modifications to the agency’s plan for prioritizing American-made renewable fuels over import-based fuels. RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper wrote that the proposed volumes “will provide the …
Lawmakers Introduce Ethanol for America Act
Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) this week introduced the bipartisan Ethanol for America Act to eliminate unnecessary barriers and make it easier for Americans to fuel their vehicles with homegrown E15. The legislation would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to finalize rulemaking from 2021 to make the E15 fuel label clearer and more consumer-oriented. It would …
RFA CEO Responds to EPA Endangerment Finding Proposal
Last week, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin released a new proposal to rescind the 2009 Endangerment Finding, which would effectively repeal all vehicle greenhouse gas standards. It would also mark one of the largest deregulatory actions in American history. According to EPA, the Endangerment Finding is the legal prerequisite used by previous administrations to regulate emissions from new motor …
Ethanol Groups Pleased with Szabo Confirmation
The U.S. Senate on Thursday confirmed Aaron Szabo to serve as the Assistant Administrator of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Air and Radiation. As Assistant Administrator, Szabo will lead the Office of Air and Radiation’s implementation of key provisions of several of the nation’s bedrock environmental laws including the Clean Air Act. Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO …
EPA Holds Hearing on Proposed RFS for 2026 and 2027
The Environmental Protection Agency today held a virtual public hearing on the proposed rule released last month to establish required Renewable Fuel Standard volumes and percentage standards for 2026 and 2027, as well as to partially waive the 2025 cellulosic biofuel volume requirement and revise the associated percentage standard due to a shortfall in cellulosic biofuel production. In his testimony, …
Supreme Court Rules on Small Refinery Exemptions Case
The U.S. Supreme Court today issued its opinion that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit is the proper venue for legal challenges to small refinery exemption (SRE) decisions. The Renewable Fuels Association and Growth Energy presented oral arguments to the Supreme Court regarding the case on EPA’s behalf and urging the court to reject the argument by …
Industry Welcomes New Renewable Fuel Standards
The renewable fuels industry welcomed new Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volume requirements for 2026 and 2027 announced by the Environmental Protection Agency on Friday. EPA proposal includes a total Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) of 24.02 billion gallons (bg) for 2026, including 15 bg for conventional renewable fuels like corn ethanol and 9.02 bg for advanced biofuels, with 5.61 bg of …
E15 Waivers Requested for Summer Again
With no prospects for a legislative fix to allow E15 year-round nationwide before the summer driving season, senators are now asking President Trump to once again authorize waivers to keep the blend available this year. A bipartisan group of senators led by John Thune (R-SD) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent a letter to the president this week asking him to …