WASHINGTON, D.C.—Growth Energy, the nation’s largest biofuel trade association, issued the following response after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a plan to grant 29 small refinery exemptions (SREs) for the 2025 plan year of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), while also pledging to fully account for any lost demand gallons toward the 2026 and 2027 renewable volume obligations (RVOs) by the end of October.
“Our position hasn’t changed—SREs should only be granted when refiners can prove disproportionate economic hardship. It’s difficult to see how these refiners have met this threshold when they’re simultaneously reporting sky-high and, in some cases, record-setting earnings.
“However, we applaud our champions on the Hill for fighting so tirelessly on behalf of homegrown biofuels; their engagement was vital to preserve the promise of the record-setting RVOs finalized earlier this year. And we appreciate the Trump administration’s continued commitment to delivering markets for farmers and biofuel producers. We will work with EPA to fully account for lost biofuel gallons and make producers and farmers whole.”