Contact: Cassidy Walter
515-322-0435

JOHNSTON, IOWA – The deadline has passed for the Trump administration to file an appeal of the 10^th Circuit Court decision on refinery exemptions from the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

Earlier this year a 3-judge panel of the U.S. 10^th Circuit Court unanimously found EPA abused their authority when granting refinery exemptions. Some refiners have appealed the decision, requesting a rehearing before the full 10^th Circuit Court. With the deadline to file appeals past, Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw made the following statement:

“The Trump administration’s decision not to join the refiner appeals is good news in the midst of dark times for American biofuels producers, who are still hurting from three years of refinery exemption abuse, trades wars, and the demand-destruction caused by the spread of and global response to the coronavirus.

“But the future is still in limbo. We hope the Trump administration will quickly make clear to the market that they intend to do the right thing and apply the 10^th Circuit Court decision nationwide. The Court’s decision is in line with Congressional intent of the RFS law. Applying this decision nationwide would be a key step to returning integrity to the RFS and ensuring 15 billion gallons will really mean 15 billion gallons.”

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association represents the state’s liquid renewable fuels industry and works to foster its growth. Iowa is the nation’s leader in renewable fuels production with 43 ethanol refineries capable of producing over 4.5 billion gallons annually – including 34 million gallons of annual cellulosic ethanol production capacity – and 11 biodiesel facilities with the capacity to produce nearly 400 million gallons annually. For more information, visit the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association website at: www.IowaRFA.org.

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