Ethanol and farm groups welcomed the Trump administration’s decision not to seek a re-hearing of a recent ruling that struck down certain small refinery exemptions.
The exemptions under the Renewable Fuel Standard “vastly exceeded” Environmental Protection Authority in granting exemptions from 2016 and 2017 RFS requirements for three refineries, according to the court.
The challenge was brought against EPA in May 2018 by the Renewable Fuels Association, National Corn Growers Association, American Coalition for Ethanol and National Farmers Union in response to the massive demand destruction caused by the Agency’s use of SREs.
In the wake of the decision not to seek a re-hearing, the four groups called upon the EPA to immediately apply the court decision nationwide.
The group states, “With this key milestone now behind us, we look forward to EPA applying the Tenth Circuit decision nationwide to all SRE petitions, beginning with the 25 pending petitions for 2019 exemptions.”
