by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The U.S. EPA on May 20 published updated small refinery exemption (SRE) data, reporting that two additional SRE petitions have been filed for Renewable Fuel Standard compliance year 2020. The agency also changed the status of three previously filed SRE petitions.
There are now 70 SRE petitions pending, up from 66 that were pending as of mid-April. The pending petitions include 18 for compliance year 2020, 32 for compliance year 2019, three for compliance year 2018, one for compliance year 2017, two for compliance year 2016, three for compliance year 2015, four for compliance year 2014, three for compliance year 2013, two for compliance year 2012, and two for compliance year 2011.
Court Vacates Midnight Refinery Exemptions newsdakota.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from newsdakota.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
U.S. EPA to keep biofuel mandates steady in 2021-22 due to coronavirus
5/20/2021
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency s biofuel blending mandates for this year and next are likely to be in line with those of 2020 as the agency accounts for weaker fuel demand since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, three sources familiar with the matter said.
That would spare the U.S. refining industry the added costs associated with the usual annual expansion in renewable volume obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard, at the expense of biofuel producers and the corn industry which depend on regular increases to grow their businesses.
iStock: photosbyjim The federal appeals court that greatly restricted access to “hardship” exemptions from the U.S. ethanol mandate in 2020 granted an EPA request on Wednesday to cancel three exemptions issued on President Trump’s final day in office. After the Biden administration took office, the EPA said the waivers had been issued without analysis of whether they were appropriate. “We vacate the agency’s decision and remand for further administrative proceedings consistent with this court’s decision in Renewable Fuels Association,” said a three-judge panel of the 10th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, based in Denver. In January 2020, the 10th Circuit ruled, in Renewable Fuels Association v. EPA, that small-volume refineries were eligible for waivers from complying with the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) only if they had received a waiver in the preceding year.