WASHINGTON – Aug. 22, 2025 – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today issued decisions involving 175 petitions for small refinery exemptions (SREs) from the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for 2016-2024. In response, American Biogas Council (ABC) Executive Director Patrick Serfass issued the following statement:
“We applaud the timing of the EPA’s recent actions on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) regarding small refinery exemptions (SREs) and the renewable volume obligations (RVOs).
“Issuing SREs now, before the RVOs are finalized, allows the EPA to balance both levers in the RFS to make sure they work together harmoniously and promote the healthy function of the RINs market. The RVOs set demand for the RINs market, and SREs decrease demand. Announcing the SREs now gives the EPA the opportunity to follow the recommendation from the American Biogas Council and other renewable fuel producers to increase RVOs, which would increase demand and balance out the impact of issuing SREs.
“Without an increase in RVOs, RIN credit prices could crash, creating a harmful economic ripple effect across rural America. The EPA can make this all work together to protect farmers and rural communities, who depend on a strong, stable RFS program.”
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