WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Supreme Court of the United States delivered an opinion in HollyFrontier Cheyenne Refining, LLC v. Renewable Fuels Association, which overturned the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision that in order to qualify for a hardship exemption under the Renewable Fuel Standard, a small refinery must have received uninterrupted, continuous hardship exemptions for every year since 2011. Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor released the following statement in response:
“The Supreme Court disagreed with the lower court’s view of extensions, but today’s decision does nothing to change the 10th Circuit’s ruling that exemptions cannot be granted when refiners cannot properly trace their hardship to compliance with the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS),” said Skor. “In the past, the biofuel industry has looked to the courts to halt abuse. Today, new leaders at the Environmental Protection Agency have shown a willingness to defend the RFS, most recently by reversing three improperly granted exemptions. We look forward to working with the Biden administration to keep a lid on exemptions, further strengthen the RFS, and fast-track our progress toward decarbonization. Engine smart and earth kind biofuels are vital to achieving the nation’s climate goals.”