Underwood Joins Bipartisan Effort To Stop EPA’s Abuse Of Small Refinery Exemptions

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (D-IL) joined Representatives Cindy Axne (D-IA) and Adrian Smith (R-NE) and a bipartisan group of 34 members to urge to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to stop issuing Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs) for large or unqualified refiners under the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) program. In a letter sent to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, the Representatives highlighted that the expansion of biofuel waivers hurts farmers who rely on demand for corn-based ethanol and other biofuels and increases our dependence on foreign oil.

"This unprecedented rate of granting waivers is a betrayal of our rural communities, detrimental to our energy security, and threatens our entire agriculture sector at a time of declining incomes and rising debts for our producers. The EPA must halt this process and reallocate waived gallons as the law intends," Members wrote.

"The Illinois Corn Growers Association is pleased that Congresswoman Underwood is taking the proactive measure of signing on a letter to EPA Administrator Wheeler regarding small refiner exemptions. The small refiner exemption process is broken and undermines the integrity of the RFS and does economic harm to the Illinois ethanol industry and corn farmers who together produce 1.6 billion gallons of fuel ethanol annually," said Ted Mottaz, Illinois Corn Growers Association President.

The EPA's RFS program requires a specific, set volume of renewable fuel to replace or reduce the quantity of petroleum-based fuels. Under the RFS program, a small refinery can be granted a temporary exemption from RFS requirements if compliance would prevent them from being profitable. However, the Trump EPA has inappropriately expanded the use of SREs, enabling refineries owned by major oil companies to receive these waivers. Not only have these waivers reduced the United States' ability to meet our RFS goals, but they decrease the demand for Midwestern corn and bio products and hurt our farmers.

In addition to Underwood, Axne, and Smith this letter is supported by David Scott (D-GA), Darin LaHood (R-IL), Roger Marshall M.D. (R-KS), Kelly Armstrong (R-ND), Cheri Bustos (D-IL), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), Steve King (R-IA), David Loebsack (D-IA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Abby Finkenauer (D-IA), Don Bacon (R-NE), Angie Craig (D-MN), Rodney Davis (R-IL), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Jim Hagedorn (R-MN), Ron Estes (R-KS), Collin C. Peterson (D-MN), Michael R. Turner (R-OH), Steve Watkins (R-KS), Tom O'Halleran (D-AZ), Tim Ryan (D-OH), Bob Gibbs (R-OH), Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO), Mike Bost (R-IL), Ron Kind (D-WI), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Bill Foster (D-IL), James R. Baird (R-IN).

The full text of the letter is available here.