An Entertaining 101 on Issues Impacting the Renewable Fuel Standard

I Take It Back! EPA Files to Reconsider 2019 SREs

September 8, 2021

Have you ever made a decision and then were like, uh, actually, wait, I didn’t mean that? I do this all the time. Some people call it being indecisive, I call it my prerogative, but we can agree to disagree right? In that spirit, U.S. EPA has recently filed a Motion to Remand without Vacatur with the D.C. Circuit Court to voluntarily reevaluate 31 Small Refiner Exemptions (SREs) that were granted in previous compliance years. For those of you who don’t know what an SRE is or how it applies to the industry, I have an article for you to read before... Read More →

I’m Late! I’m Late! For a Very Important Date! EPA Has Still Not Published the Renewable Volume Obligations

August 11, 2021

If I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard “patience is a virtue,” I wouldn’t need to be employed. Personally, I think having patience is overrated as it is a virtue that I do not possess. While no one is really surprised by this, least of all my boss, many participants in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) are running out of patience with EPA. As of the date of this article, EPA still has not released the Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) for the years 2021 and 2022. As many participants in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) are aware, EPA... Read More →

The Last Dance: SCOTUS Issues the Decision for the 10th Circuit Case

July 21, 2021

In its final pirouette of this last dance, the United States Supreme Court (SCOTUS) finally ruled on Holly Frontier et al. v. Renewable Fuels Association et al. from the 10th Circuit. While the decision was not the sweeping win some Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) participants were hoping for, it could have been worse. As you might recall, the case before the SCOTUS centered on three refineries being granted Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs). To recap, here are the facts for each refiner that landed this case in the Supreme Court: Holly Frontier Cheyenne, LLC (“Cheyenne”): Cheyenne had been granted an exemption for the year 2012... Read More →

A Bit of Light: EPA to Release a Combined RVO

June 16, 2021

It is no secret that you have to be a little bit brave to be a participant in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). For the past few years, it seems the RFS has been a hotbed of issues. However, there seems to be a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel. EPA is working to release the Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) for 2021 and 2022. As most RFS participants know, RVOs help drive the production and demand for renewable fuel. If you don’t know what an RVO or obligated party is or why the RVOs are important,... Read More →

Pounding the Table and Yelling: Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments on the 10th Circuit Case

May 12, 2021

“If the facts are against you, argue the law. If the law is against you, argue the facts. If the law and the facts are against you, pound the table and yell like hell.” -Carl Sandburg Recently, the United State Supreme Court (SCOTUS) heard oral arguments on the 10th Circuit case regarding EPA’s granting of three different extensions of Small Refiner Extensions (SREs). As you might recall, in order to be granted a small refiner exemption, a small refinery had to be considered “small” and had to have had experienced a disproportionate economic hardship. Further, once a refiner either failed to... Read More →

Providing Back-Up: Certain States File Amicus Brief in Small Refiner Case Before the U.S. Supreme Court

April 14, 2021

A lawyer is the only person who writes a 21-page argument and calls it a “brief.” Sometimes, just one “brief” won’t do it. Recently, the states of Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, South Dakota, and Virginia, (“the States”) filed a brief as amici curiae, or, as it’s better known, an “amicus brief.” Before I go any further, let’s talk legal-ese for a moment. An amicus brief is filed by individuals or entities not party to the original case, but who have an interest in the outcome. It’s a little like saying, “hey, we know this isn’t our fight, but... Read More →

Winds of Change: EPA Announces Support of 10th Circuit Decision

March 10, 2021

The winds of change are blowing directly at EPA….and causing the agency to shift in a completely opposite direction. At the risk of speaking too soon, it looks like EPA might be returning to a pre-2016 narrower read of the regulations with respect to small refinery exemptions (SREs). Recently , EPA announced that after “careful consideration of the 2020 decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit in Renewable Fuels Association et al. v. EPA, 948 F.3d 1206 (“Decision”), EPA supports that court’s interpretation of the renewable fuel standard (RFS) small-refinery provisions.” EPA’s announcement follows the decision of the... Read More →

The Man with the Plan: Biden’s Pick for EPA Administrator Wants a More Thorough Review of Biofuels Policies

February 10, 2021

Sometimes, the only thing you need is Stan, the man with the plan…or in this case, Michael Regan. The Biden Administration’s pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to sit down with general counsel to go over the biofuels policy with respect to Small Refiner Exemptions (SREs). As many of you know, each new presidential administration is able to pick its own administrators. The head of the EPA, otherwise known as the EPA Administrator, is one such position. The person picked for this position is typically someone who can best enable the incoming administration’s environmental policy. As the... Read More →

Hulk Smash! The Importance of the Valero v. Sundive Lawsuit on the RIN Market

January 13, 2021

Sometimes, thing don’t happen the way that they should, and it makes others very angry. Valero Energy Corporation (“Valero”) is just a tiny bit mad at Sundive Commodity Group (“Sundive”). So mad, in fact, that Valero is suing Sundive over Sundive’s inability to procure RINs for Valero, forcing Valero to pay over $10 million more for RINs to meet their compliance obligation. #hulksmash So what actually happened in this case? Valero had about 100 contracts with Sundive for the purpose of securing RINs to meet Valero’s compliance obligation. Valero alleges, through the terms and conditions of these contracts, Sundive was... Read More →

Swing and a Miss! EPA Misses Statutory Deadline for Renewable Volume Obligations

December 9, 2020

Sometimes, it’s perfectly acceptable to be late. You stopped for coffee on your way to work and the line was long, but you needed your morning cup of joe so that people won’t mind it when you speak to them. You’re late, but for a worthy cause. Other times, people completely lose their minds when you’re even the tiniest bit late. EPA currently knows a little bit about this. By November 30 of any compliance year, EPA is supposed to have released the finalized rule for the Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) for the upcoming compliance year. The proposed rule for... Read More →