The Renewable Fuels Association wasted no time in taking action to stop the last minute small refinery exemptions granted Tuesday by the outgoing Trump Administration Environmental Protection Agency. RFA filed a petition for review and an emergency motion to stay the effectiveness of the waivers, which the organization says will “inflict substantial, immediate, and irreversible harm” to the U.S. ethanol …
Trump EPA Grants Last Minute Refinery Waivers
At an agricultural event last week, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said he would not resign from the Trump Administration before the inauguration because he believed it was important for him to stay on “in the best interests of the agency, in order to ensure a smooth transition to my successors.” On his way out the door on Tuesday, Wheeler gave …
ACE Reacts to EPA Biofuels Proposals
American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings was glad to see one of the last minute proposals released by the Environmental Protection Agency on Friday, not so pleased with the others. “ACE strongly supports EPA’s proposal to make E15 more accessible to retailers and motorists, but once again, the Trump EPA has chosen to bundle a promise to do …
Mixed Bag of Last Minute EPA Proposals for Biofuels
With just days before a new administration takes office, the Environmental Protection Agency on Friday issued a mixed bag of last minute proposals for biofuels producers. First, in Friday’s Federal Register, EPA proposed to extend compliance deadlines for 2019 and 2020 renewable volume obligations, stating that the agency would “take no position on the availability of SREs for the 2019 …
EPA Proposal May Mean No Last Minute Waivers
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a new rule Thursday that would extend 2019 and 2020 Renewable Fuel Standard compliance year deadlines due to the “uncertainty” surrounding small refinery exemptions. EPA notes that the Tenth Circuit Court case, which is now pending on the Supreme Court’s docket, has the potential to impact the availability of SREs going forward. Because of …
Ethanol Supporters React to Reports of More Waivers
Reports that the Trump Administration is possibly planning to grant a number of 2019 small refinery exemptions this week have led to strong outcry from ethanol organizations and farm state lawmakers. Rep. Cindy Axne (D-IA), co-chair of the House Biofuels Caucus, led a bipartisan letter urging President Trump to direct the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to immediately reject the issuance …
EPA Chief Wheeler Will Not Resign
During an agricultural event in Mississippi on Monday, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler said he will not resign from the Trump Administration. “I was disgusted by the events of last Wednesday,” he said in answer to a reporter’s question. “I believe in the best interests of the agency, in order to ensure a smooth transition to my successors, …
Supreme Court Will Hear RFS Waiver Case
Late Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review the 10th Circuit Court decision made a year ago this month that invalidated several small refinery exemptions issued by EPA under the Renewable Fuel Standard. The decision is in response to a petition submitted in September by HollyFrontier Corporation and CVR Energy, two of the refineries named in the case. The …
Groups Reject EPA Excuse for Non-Compliance with Court Order
Farm and biofuel organizations are rejecting the Environmental Protection Agency‘s excuses for failure to comply with a 2017 court order invalidated the agency’s improper waiver of 500 million gallons for 2016. The coalition, which includes the Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, National Biodiesel Board, American Coalition for Ethanol, National Corn Growers Association, National Farmers Union, and National Sorghum Producers, this …
EPA Proposes Consent Decree for One Refinery Waiver
This week, the Environmental Protection Agency published a notice of proposed consent decree and request for public comment in the Federal Register to settle a 2019 refinery waiver petition by February 19. United Refinery filed a complaint against EPA in July 2020 alleging that the agency “failed to take final action on its petition for a small refinery hardship exemption …