Ethanol supporters ask a court to consider more documents in the case against small refinery waivers.
According to the Hagstrom Report, redacted briefs claim the Environmental Protection Agency misinterpreted rules and granted exemptions to three refineries that didn’t meet qualifications. Plus, filings reveal the EPA granted full exemptions after the Department Of Energy recommended only partial exemptions.
A decision by the court could impact how EPA grants future waiver exemptions as early as 2020.
Another issue on the RFS front; a recent biofuel reform proposal.
The Energy And Commerce Department plans to hold a hearing next week to review the new package. The plan proposes to raise blend volumes to 15 billion gallons, but groups are skeptical it will help hit the blend target.
House Ag Committee Chair, Collin Peterson, supports the hearing saying, “Our farmers and rural communities rely on the RFS for their economic viability, and EPA’s actions have done nothing but provide uncertainty and the potential for economic ruin.”
EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler downplayed RFS criticism saying, “I think a lot of people had a knee jerk reaction” because the rule “wasn’t exactly what they were expecting.”
During a cabinet meeting with President Trump, Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue suggests agriculture should praise the proposal saying it "...balanced up the smaller refinery waivers with the farmers and RFS.” adding: “once farmers fully understand what you’ve done here, they’ll be fine as they see it implemented.”
