As we noted yesterday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is reportedly taking a look at its exemptions to renewable fuels requirements, according to Reuters. Here’s what we can expect.
In case you’re new here: Trump’s EPA has granted an unprecedented number of Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs) to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which requires a certain percentage of biofuels to be mixed in transportation fuel in the United States.
But last month, an appeals court ruled the EPA “overstepped its authority to grant” three exemptions in 2016 and asked the agency to reconsider them, because the particular refineries “had not received exemptions in the previous year,” Reuters reported in January.
In addition to these three waivers, the ruling “has prompted speculation that the EPA will need to reconsider dozens of other waivers it has granted under similar circumstances, and drastically reduce the numbers of waivers handed out in the future.”
So, EPA’s consulting with the White House on the next move, with a decision expected by March 9th, according to the latest from Reuters.
What they’re saying: “[The ruling] has the potential of completely—of changing—the small refinery program,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “So, we’re taking a close look at the Tenth Circuit decisions and the ramifications to the program.”
But: It’s all about semantics—and it’s not clear what, if anything, will change in terms of how much biofuel will actually be required to be used when all is said and done.
BIO’s take: We’re glad the administration is looking at the issue and we’re hopeful it will be fixed—but in the meantime, we’re doing our part to push for low-carbon fuel initiatives across the country to drive adoption of more sustainable biofuels.
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