IRFA: U.S. Supreme Court Needs to Stop RFS Exemption Venue Shopping

JOHNSTON, IA - The U.S. Supreme Court has decided to weigh in on whether lawsuits regarding small refinery exemptions (SREs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) should be heard by regional U.S. Circuit Courts or the DC Circuit Court after conflicting opinions from several U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw made the following statement:

"It's time for the U.S. Supreme Court to put an end to venue shopping by refiners seeking to avoid their RFS obligations. Disputes over the federal RFS should be handled in the DC Circuit Court instead of having refiners file suit in multiple circuits hoping they get lucky in one. IRFA members appreciate the Supreme Court taking the case and we hope they provide clarity going forward. In addition, we applaud Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association for putting this question before the Supreme Court."

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association represents the state's liquid renewable fuels industry and works to foster its growth. Iowa is the nation's leader in renewable fuels production with 42 ethanol refineries capable of producing 4.7 billion gallons annually - including 34 million gallons of annual cellulosic ethanol production capacity - and 10 biodiesel facilities with the capacity to produce 416 million gallons annually. For more information, visit the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association website at: www.IowaRFA.org.

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