What They Are Saying: Leaders Across U.S. Applaud EPA’s Action on 2025 Small Refinery Exemptions

What They Are Saying: Leaders Across U.S. Applaud EPA's Action on 2025 Small Refinery Exemptions

September 1, 2026

WASHINGTON - On August 31, 2026, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced decisions for 34 small refinery exemption (SRE) petitions under the Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS) program for 2025. EPA reviewed and considered information submitted by each petitioning small refinery in consultation with U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and then evaluated each SRE petition consistent with the Clean Air Act and case law. Based on that analysis, EPA is exempting 1.76 billion RFS compliance credits, known as Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs), for 29 small refineries. EPA will propose to reallocate 100 percent of the difference between projected and actual exempted volumes for 2025 SREs into the 2026 and 2027 Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) before the end of October 2026.

Here's what people are saying:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin: "Through today's Small Refinery decision, the Trump Administration delivered a massive WIN-WIN for America's farmers and small refineries!"

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins: "Thank you, President Trump, for continuing to reaffirm that you are the most pro-biofuels President in history. What today's 100% reallocation announcement means for our farmers and rural America cannot be overstated."

USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden: "The EPA's decision to pair small refinery exemptions with reallocation is a win for American farmers, ensuring increased demand for corn and soybeans continues. Thank you, President Trump and Administrator Zeldin, for including a commitment to reallocation in the announcement, as this Administration's EPA is the only one to have reallocated waived volumes."

National Energy Dominance Council Executive Director Jarrod Agen: "Today's Small Refinery Exemption announcement is a huge win for consumers, farmers, and our energy supply chains. This upholds President Trump's record number of RVOs, keeping them intact for American farmers, while simultaneously lowering costs for our small refineries, allowing them to expand their capacity. President Trump has ensured our American farmers are protected by reallocating these volumes in the current 2026 and 2027 cycles. America's refineries were under attack for years by the radical Democrats, but President Trump put a stop to it by unleashing refineries and powering American energy dominance."

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds: "Thank you President Trump for listening to farmers and reallocating 100% of exempted biofuels. Now, EPA must move quickly to ensure the final rule supports producers in Iowa and consumers at the pump."

Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA): "Thank you, President Trump, for listening to Iowa farmers and protecting the strongest biofuel volumes in history! Homegrown biofuels mean cheaper fuel at the pump, strong markets for our farmers, and greater energy security. Next up: nationwide, year-round E15!"

Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE): "Thanks to President Trump, biofuel volumes are at record highs - a win for Nebraska producers. Reallocating SRE volumes in 2026 and 2027 is critical to keeping demand strong, and I'm grateful the administration is reaffirming its commitment to American farmers. I look forward to bolstering our biofuel industry, including securing year-round E15, to provide producers greater certainty and families lower costs at the pump."

Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA): "Thanks President Trump for listening to the IA delegation on behalf of rural America & committing to 100% reallocation of exempted biofuels. This is important for family farmers & biofuel producers including 31,000+ biofuel jobs in Iowa. Biofuels is an affordable option at the pump."

Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS): "As Kansas farmers head to the fields for harvest, market certainty and strong demand are more important than ever. I applaud the Trump Administration and EPA for taking action and committing to support a strong American biofuels industry in order to protect opportunities for Kansas corn and soybean producers."

Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE): "Biofuels save consumers money at the pump, help clean up the environment, and are great for farmers and ranchers. I am glad to see that today's announcement reflects the importance of biofuels. I will continue to work with this Administration and my colleagues to ensure SREs do not further undercut farmers and ranchers. I appreciate that the President and his team were willing to work with farmers and ranchers on this issue. Consumers deserve affordable gas. Farmers deserve stable markets. Today's SRE decision reinforces why we have to pass E15."

Representative Brad Finstad (R-MN-01): "Today, the EPA committed to reallocating 100% of exempted biofuel gallons in 2026 and 2027, protecting record high volumes. Thank you, President Trump, for listening to farm country and continuing to invest in our homegrown biofuel industries."

Representative Mike Flood (R-NE-01): "I appreciate the EPA's proposal to reallocate SRE volumes following today's announcement. This would ensure exemptions don't fall on our farmers. It's simple: Farmers need more domestic markets, and families deserve the lower prices biofuels provide."

Representative Ashley Hinson (R-IA-02): "Iowa biofuels are the best solution to lower costs at the pump for consumers while boosting our rural economy. Following my advocacy, the administration moved forward with 100% reallocation of exempt gallons instead of dramatically reducing biofuels blending levels, which would have been a hand out to Big Oil & harmful to Iowa producers and our ag economy. As the administration works toward a final rule, we must ensure all exempt gallons are reallocated and farmers are made whole. I'll continue to engage with the Trump Administration to ensure the final rule supports Iowa farmers, and ultimately, lowers the price at the pump for consumers. American energy policy must keep biofuels front and center."

American Soybean Association Vice President and Iowa soybean farmer Dave Walton: "Soybean farmers greatly appreciate President Trump, Senator Grassley along with other biofuel champions in Congress, and USDA officials for sounding the alarm and working around the clock to ensure that soybean farmers and producers of homegrown biofuels are not negatively impacted by today's SRE announcement. We appreciate the administration's commitment to reallocating 100 percent of these additional exemptions and their intention to enter into supplemental rulemaking soon, but timing is critical. Any delay in reallocation risks undermining the domestic market demand that soybean farmers urgently need as we enter harvest season. EPA must move quickly to fully reallocate these RINs and ensure soybean farmers are held harmless."

Clean Fuels Alliance America: "Today, EPA announced decisions on 34 petitions from small refineries seeking exemptions (SREs) from tepid 2025 RFS volumes. At the same time, EPA announced its intention to finalize a supplemental rule before the end of October to ensure that the RINs exempted today are restored to 2026 and 2027 RFS volumes. We thank President Trump and congressional champions including Senator Chuck Grassley, Senator Joni Ernst, and Representative Ashley Hinson, for working to ensure that RFS exemptions don't come at the expense of clean fuel producers and farmers."

Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall: "Renewable fuels have been a tremendous success story for the country and the rural economy. They reduce our country's dependence on foreign oil, lower prices at the pump for consumers, support farm income, and provide good-paying jobs in rural America....we are pleased to see EPA's commitment to 100% reallocation of exempted volumes before the end of October."

Growth Energy: "We applaud our champions on the Hill for fighting so tirelessly on behalf of homegrown biofuels; their engagement was vital to preserve the promise of the record-setting RVOs finalized earlier this year. And we appreciate the Trump administration's continued commitment to delivering markets for farmers and biofuel producers."

Small Refineries of America: "Thank You, President Trump and Administrator Zeldin for Providing Relief to Small Refineries. These exemptions recognize the disproportionate economic hardship that RFS compliance obligations impose on the nation's small refineries and provide meaningful, timely relief to facilities that supply fuel and support jobs across the country."

Sustainable Advanced Biofuel Refiners Coalition CEO Joe Jobe: "We are grateful to the administration and the president for their decision today to reinforce their commitment to the RFS made earlier this year and to keep the recovery of the biodiesel and soybean industries going. We also thank Senator Chuck Grassley for his leadership on this issue, as well as USDA and EPA."