The National Biodiesel Board thank multiple legislators from both political parties for introducing the Renewable Fuels Standard Integrity Act of 2019 into the House. The legislation would require small refineries to petition for Renewable Fuels Standard hardship exemptions by June 1 of each year.
That change would ensure the Environmental Protection Agency properly accounts for exempted gallons in the annual Renewable Volume Obligations it sets each November. Kurt Kovarik, the NBB Vice President of Federal Affairs says they appreciate the legislative solution to EPA’s recent flood of small refinery exemptions.
“This is just one of the many things that the EPA could do on its own to ensure that the RFS volumes it sets each year are met and the market for biodiesel and renewable diesel remains open,” he said. “EPA’s retroactive small refinery exemptions destroyed demand for more than 360 million gallons of biodiesel and renewable diesel of the past 16 months.”
Kovarik says the EPA is considering granting another flood of retroactive exemptions, which will further undercut the use of advanced biofuels for the rest of 2019 and into the future.
“This legislation will prevent further harm to biodiesel producers and soybean growers,” Kovarik adds.