NSP Welcomes EPA Denial of SRE “Gap-Year” Petitions
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 16, 2020)—National Sorghum Producers welcomed the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement on Monday it will deny 54 petitions for small refinery exemptions (SREs) for past compliance years. These “gap-filling” petitions showed the small refineries had not demonstrated their viability was affected based on findings from the Department of Energy (DOE). NSP Chairman Dan Atkisson released the following statement in response:
“This decision by the EPA provides sorghum growers with greater certainty they will continue to have access to a robust ethanol market geared toward meeting the goals set by the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) program. Congress’s intent for the RFS was a strong program aimed at promoting and strengthening domestic markets for ethanol, and to that end, we thank the Administration and appreciate support from a bipartisan group of legislators and other farm state Members in their efforts to ensure our farmers and rural communities have the economic viability provided by ethanol production.
“We also appreciate members of the Congressional Biofuels Caucus who have introduced provisions from the Renewable Fuel Standard Integrity Act, with the text released as part of the Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act yesterday, to ensure greater integrity and transparency in the process. As a farmer, these announcements are encouraging to our members, even though we know there is much more to be done for the ethanol industry.”
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National Sorghum Producers represents U.S. sorghum producers and serves as the voice of the sorghum industry coast to coast through legislative and regulatory representation and education. To learn more about NSP, visit www.sorghumgrowers.com.