Statewide Iowa (RI) – A leader in the ethanol industry says the EPA is giving more small oil refineries a pass when it comes to adding ethanol to gasoline, and that’s a concern.
Geoff Cooper is president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association.
The Trump Administration has reviewed a backlog of requests dating back to the Biden Administration, and so far, this year has granted exemptions to 160 small refineries.
The Renewable Fuel Standard requires refiners to blend billions of gallons of ethanol and other biofuels into the nation’s fuel pool each year. Small refiners may seek exemptions, however, if they show the blending requirement would be a big financial hit to the operation, and the EPA has 15 requests yet to review. Iowa is the nation’s top ethanol-producing state, with 42 plants that use corn to make ethanol and two that use plant material to make ethanol.
KIWA Staff Photo