National Biodiesel Board Vice President of Federal Affairs Kurt Kovarik says it’s hard to know for sure what will happen with the small refinery exemptions with the outgoing Trump administration. “They may grant some of these waivers at the eleventh hour. If that happens, it would be very disappointing given President Trump gave lots of support to farmers and commodity producers in the agricultural community,” says Kovarik. “He supported the ethanol and biodiesel industries and said as much. To have the administration at the last minute walking out the door with this threat of additional handouts to the oil industry would set a bad tone.” The biodiesel industry is also waiting for updated Renewable Volume Obligations. “No RVOs have been proposed. The new administration will have to go through the process of putting out a proposal, taking comments and finalizing it. Unfortunately, none of that can happen quickly.”
