Last week, we received word that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had denied 54 ?gap year waivers? that had been approved by the Department of Energy. There are still 14 remaining requests that the DOE must look at before they give their recommendations to the EPA. Biofuels groups are urging the Trump Administration to ?finish the job.?
There is now a precedent set by the EPA with these gap year waivers. As we heard from Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw last week, to not deny the remaining waivers would be a legal nightmare.
Also, there are 33 waiver petitions for 2019 and 2020 still pending. The denial of the gap year waivers means there is no backdated line of precedence of hardship on which to support these 2019 and 2020 requests. With that in mind several Ag groups have said that the Trump Administration needs to just deny theses pending waivers.
Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President and CEO Geoff Cooper says that denying these remaining requests will fulfill the promise that is already in motion.
National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) President and Iowa Farmer Kevin Ross says that the White House cannot claim they have kept their word on this issue until the waivers are denied.
The RFA and NCGA were joined by the American Coalition for Ethanol and the National Farmers Union in calling for the completion of waiver denials. They also are calling on EPA to do their job and release the 2021 Renewable Volume Obligations.
