CASPER, Wyo. — The United States Environmental Protection Agency announced on Monday, Sept. 14 that they are denying petitions for small refinery exemptions from renewable fuel standard requirements for “the so-called ‘gap-filling’ petitions for the 2011-18 compliance years.”
“This decision follows President Trump’s promise to promote domestic biofuel production, support our nation’s farmers, and in turn strengthen our energy independence,” EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said in a press release. “At the EPA, we are delivering on that promise by following the rule-of-law and ensuring 15 billion gallons are blended into the nation’s fuel supply.”
While Wheeler spoke positively of the decision, Wyoming’s senior United States Senator Mike Enzi’s office said Monday that the EPA’s decision could hurt energy workers.
“I’m disappointed in the EPA’s denial of these important small refinery waivers,” Enzi said in a press release from his office. “The Renewable Fuel Standard program is in many ways a broken system, and exemptions are necessary for our small refineries to compete on a level playing field. This decision could hurt many energy workers in Wyoming and across the country.”
Enzi’s office notes that 17 small refineries across the country submitted petitions since March asking to EPA to reconsider fuel standards exemption denials for previous compliance years.
“Wheeler announced the agency is denying those petitions, saying that the small refineries did not demonstrate disproportionate economic hardship from compliance with the program,” Enzi’s office said.
The EPA, however, said their policies support farmers in the United States.
“As promised, EPA is ensuring a net of 15 billion gallons of conventional biofuel are blended into the nation’s fuel supply,” the agency said. “EPA renewable fuel volume mandates have continued to rise in EPA’s annual rulemakings, and, with it, renewable transportation fuel use in the U.S. From 2016 to 2019 domestic ethanol production in increased by 2 percent.”
The EPA notes that the Clean Air Act requires the agency set annual renewable fuel standard requirements.
“EPA’s longstanding interpretation of the Clean Air Act allows for the granting of a petition for exemption from blending requirements under the RFS program for the reason of demonstrated, disproportionate economic hardship,” the agency said.
