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Groups want hardship waivers to be addressed

Many ag and renewable fuels groups are upset that oil refinery hardship waivers were not addressed in the EPA’s 2019 Renewable Volume Obligation proposal.

Rob Shaffer, an Illinois farmer and board member with the American Soybean Association, says the group is pleased that the EPA proposed some growth in renewable fuel volumes. But, he says the growth can’t undo damage caused by small refinery exemptions.

“That 300 million gallons could be wiped out with the strike of a pen,” he says.

Audio: Rob Shaffer, American Soybean Association 

Matt Tomano with POET biorefining in Portland, Indiana says the EPA must reallocate the 1.6 billion gallons waived from volume requirements because of the hardship waivers for big oil refineries.

“There’s no information  indicating (hardship waivers) truly should be issued and why there is not a reallocation of those gallons to maintain the standard that Congress has put with the volume obligations,” he says.

Audio: Matt Tomano, POET biorefining

The EPA has until November 30th to finalize the annual biofuel targets.