Iowa advocate: Exemptions could 'rip the heart out' of RFS

摘要

Giving small refineries a pass on ethanol blending requirements could "rip the heart out" of the federal lawencouraging the use of renewable fuels, a leading biofuel advocate in Iowa said yesterday.The executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, Monte Shaw, said at a news conference that ifEPA grants more than 30 outstanding requests for exemptions from ethanol blending requirements, more than abillion gallons of the corn-based fuel could be affected, throwing off the renewable fuel standard.Shaw joined Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig in urging EPA to reject small refiners' requests for exemptionsbased on economic hardship, an issue that's ignited a fierce debate in the petroleum and biofuels industries inthe past year. The agency hasn't said when it will decide on the refiners' petitions."Congress didn't say give blanket exemptions," Shaw said, referring to a provision in the renewable fuels law thatallows EPA to temporarily lift RFS requirements for small refineries that demonstrate economic harm frommeeting them. Refineries are required either to blend ethanol into fuel or to buy renewable fuel credits fromrefiners that do in order to meet the law's mandate.