In the United States (US), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced its final decisions related to the 2018 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) - Small Refinery Exemptions. Of 40 waiver applications received, 31 were granted small refinery exemptions that collectively accounted for 13.42 billion (US) gallons of diesel and gasoline and 1.43 billion gallons worth of Renewable Volume Obligations (RVO).
Under the EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program, a small refinery may be granted a temporary exemption from its annual Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) if it can demonstrate that compliance with the RVOs would “cause the refinery to suffer disproportionate economic hardship.”
According to the agency it evaluates submissions to determine whether an exemption may be granted, based on information presented by the petitioning refinery and on the statutory and regulatory requirements for exemption.
The EPA also announced its “intention” to further explore opportunities to remove regulatory burdens that prevent marketplace entrance and growth to natural gas, flexible fuel vehicles (FFV), and E85 fuels. EPA “welcomes the opportunity” to engage with stakeholders to explore deregulatory options in the coming months to ensure that it plays its part in supporting American farmers and consumers.
