EPA U-turn on small refinery exemptions applauded
The US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that it now backs the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeal’s ruling on small refinery exemptions (SREs).
This conclusion, prompted by a detailed review by the Supreme Court, represented a change in EPA’s position.
Representatives from the US biofuels industry welcomed the decision.
Congress created the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) programme to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and expand the nation’s renewable fuels sector while reducing reliance on imported oil.
Small refineries were exempted from the RFS programme from 2006-2010.
However, in 2017 the EPA began granting a large number of petitions for extensions of SREs.
By 2018, the number of SREs issued for the 2017 compliance year was more than quadruple the number granted in 2015.
The large increase in SRE petitions granted represented a significant decline in the required use of renewable fuel volumes, which decreased the incentives for the production and use of renewable fuels.
Growth Energy has applauded the EPA’s decision to stand with the Tenth Circuit Court ruling that will help boost biofuel production.
“We are pleased to see the Biden EPA signal support for the Tenth Circuit’s ruling and repudiate the prior administration EPA’s misguided attempt to distort the plain language of the RFS to serve oil industry interests at the expense of America’s biofuel producers and farmers,” said Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy.
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association also praised the EPA’s announcement.
This conclusion, prompted by a detailed review by the Supreme Court, represented a change in EPA’s position.
Representatives from the US biofuels industry welcomed the decision.
Congress created the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) programme to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and expand the nation’s renewable fuels sector while reducing reliance on imported oil.
Small refineries were exempted from the RFS programme from 2006-2010.
However, in 2017 the EPA began granting a large number of petitions for extensions of SREs.
By 2018, the number of SREs issued for the 2017 compliance year was more than quadruple the number granted in 2015.
The large increase in SRE petitions granted represented a significant decline in the required use of renewable fuel volumes, which decreased the incentives for the production and use of renewable fuels.
Growth Energy has applauded the EPA’s decision to stand with the Tenth Circuit Court ruling that will help boost biofuel production.
“We are pleased to see the Biden EPA signal support for the Tenth Circuit’s ruling and repudiate the prior administration EPA’s misguided attempt to distort the plain language of the RFS to serve oil industry interests at the expense of America’s biofuel producers and farmers,” said Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy.
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association also praised the EPA’s announcement.
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