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.”
The American Soybean Association responded to the administration’s actions on 2025 small refinery exemption (SRE) petitions, which remove approximately 1.8 billion Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) from Renewable Fuel Standard compliance for small refiners but propose to reallocate 100% of those RINs to larger refiners in the current 2026-2027 period, thereby assuring no loss in biofuel demand. Without 100% reallocation in the current period covered by EPA’s Set 2 Rule, ASA had estimated that biomass-based diesel demand would drop by 500 million gallons and soybean farmers would suffer almost a $1 billion loss in revenue. ASA appreciates the intervention of President Trump, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and members of Congress, who highlighted the threat of SRE actions to biofuel feedstock producers and identified solutions to protect domestic soybean markets ahead of harvest. ASA also thanks the EPA for outlining the timeline to move forward with supplemental rulemaking before the end of October to hold soybean farmers and biofuel demand harmless by ensuring additional impacted volumes are 100% reallocated back into the historic renewable volume obligations finalized by the Trump administration in April. “Soybean farmers greatly appreciate President Trump, Senator Grassley along with other biofuel champions in Congress, and USDA officials for sounding the alarm and working around the clock to ensure that soybean farmers and producers of homegrown biofuels are not negatively impacted by today’s SRE announcement,” said Dave Walton, ASA vice president and Iowa soybean farmer. “We appreciate the administration’s commitment to reallocating 100% of these additional exemptions and their intention to enter into supplemental rulemaking soon, but timing is critical. Any delay in reallocation risks undermining the domestic market demand that soybean farmers urgently need as we enter harvest season. EPA must move quickly to fully reallocate these RINs and ensure soybean farmers are held harmless.” ASA also urges EPA to include 100% reallocation of updated expected SRE levels for 2026 and 2027. EPA proactively accounted for expected exemptions in setting those volumes, but SRE levels are now expected to be higher if new assessment methodology does not change. Addressing updated 2025–2027 SRE levels together would protect the integrity of the RFS and avoid the need for annual supplemental rulemakings.
Clean Fuels– The Environmental Protection Agency announced decisions on 34 petitions from small refineries seeking exemptions (SREs) from compliance with 2025 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) obligations. EPA exempted 29 refineries (18 received 100% and 11 received 50% exemptions) from retiring a total of 1.76 billion RINs for 2025 compliance. At the same time, the agency finalized a rule to further delay the 2025 RFS compliance date to October 1 and provide additional benefits to all refiners. EPA also announced its intention to finalize a supplemental rule before the end of October to ensure that the RINs exempted today are restored to 2026 and 2027 RFS volumes. In the 2026-2027 RFS rule announced in March, EPA estimated that it would grant SREs totaling 990 million RINs for 2025. The agency established supplemental volumes for 2026 and 2027 to ensure that the exemptions would not undercut current biodiesel and renewable diesel production and halt investments in additional production capacity. Today, President Trump and EPA promised to restore all 770 million RINs exempted above the prior estimate through a forthcoming supplemental rule. Kurt Kovarik, Clean Fuels’ Vice President of Federal Affairs, stated in reaction: “America’s biodiesel, renewable diesel and SAF producers have been working overtime to meet the historic RFS volumes announced just last March. The industry is producing at record pace today, providing a strong domestic market for America’s farmers, investing billions in rural communities, contributing to America’s energy security, and providing American consumers a price break at the pump – in short, delivering measurable results on the administration’s goals for the RFS. We’re hopeful that today’s action won’t reverse the progress we’ve made and that our industry can maintain faith in the RFS program. “Clean Fuels fundamentally disagrees that small refiners need reprieve from the tepid 2025 RFS volumes set by the prior administration. We appreciate the White House’s commitment to hold biofuel producers harmless and will work with EPA to quickly finalize the promised supplemental rule. We will continue to press the administration to reallocate future small refinery exemptions to ensure they do not harm farmers and other stakeholders in clean fuel production. “Clean Fuels and its members are extremely grateful for the quick action of Senators Chuck Grassley, Joni Ernst, Representative Ashley Hinson, and numerous other congressional champions who worked to ensure that EPA’s relief measures for small refineries do not come at the expense of America’s biofuel producers and farmers.”
National Corn Growers– The Environmental Protection Agency today issued Small Refinery Exemptions equating to almost 1.8 billion credits known as Renewable Identification Numbers, or RINs, to small petroleum refineries. Today’s decision exempts a swath of refineries from blending renewable fuels as required by the Renewable Fuels Standard. EPA will propose to reallocate 100% of the difference between projected and actual exempted volumes for 2025 SREs into the 2026 and 2027 Renewable Volume Obligations before the end of October. In response, National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) President Jed Bower released the following statement: “While we are disheartened by the high number of SREs that are being granted to exempt small refineries from meeting federal blending requirements, we are thankful that the Trump administration is taking action to offset this development by pledging to reallocate these RINs. Reallocation is essential for protecting farmers, biofuel producers and consumers alike.” “We need vibrant markets for our products, particularly when it comes to corn ethanol, and the nation’s drivers need affordable fuel. Biofuels are a homegrown solution for increasing our country’s energy supply and reducing fuel costs. Recent history has shown that issuing SREs at this volume does nothing to reduce the price of gas. “We are appreciative of the White House and our advocates on Capitol Hill for hearing our concerns and acting. We will work closely with EPA and administration officials to ensure our growers’ interests are protected as these specific announcements are implemented and as other decisions affecting the biofuels market are being made.”
National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew today shared the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency’s announcement on 2025 Renewable Fuel Standard Small Refinery Exemptions: “We appreciate the administration’s decision to fully reallocate the renewable identification numbers affected by these exemptions, protecting a stable market for family farmers. Farmers spoke out about the harm they’d face without full reallocation, and we appreciate EPA listening to those concerns. The uncertainty around potential changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard has not been helpful at a time when farm country needs predictability. We’re glad to see the integrity of the program upheld and continued demand for what our farmers grow.”
