Retroactive Waiver Relief Concerns SD Corn Industry

According to a Reuters report, the U.S. Department of Energy is recommending partial relief for oil refiners applying for retroactive waivers from the Renewable Fuel Standard. There are nearly 60 pending retroactive waiver requests for 2011 to 2018 at the EPA. South Dakota Corn Growers Association Executive Director Lisa Richardson said the oil industry doesn’t have a good reason for wanting the exemptions. “In 2018 and 2019, small refinery waivers gave an upwards of four billion gallons of the Renewable Fuel Standard away. Then, the National Corn Growers Association and others took oil refiners to court and won,” explained Richardson. “The industry is in a crisis mode; 2018 was terrible, 2019 wasn’t good and obviously, the pandemic is affecting the entire economy, not just one industry.” While U.S. ethanol production has improved since the start of summer, there are plants not running at full capacity. The EPA has 90 days to act on the Energy Department’s recommendations.