10/13/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/13/2026 11:15
Zeldin's announcement marks an important first step in restoring waived RFS volumes and sending a strong signal to farmers and biofuel producers.
WEST DES MOINES, IA - Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin released a draft rule that fully reallocates volumes lost due to refinery exemptions (SREs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), marking an important first step toward ensuring the integrity of the RFS providing greater certainty for farmers and biofuel producers.
Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw issued the following statement:
"Biofuels producers and farmers will sleep easier tonight knowing that the draft reallocation rule is moving quickly towards finalization. Today is a great first step, and we thank Administrator Zeldin and the EPA for sending a strong signal to farmers and biofuels producers that these gallons matter. Fully reallocating the lost gallons will ensure the robust 2026-2027 RFS blending levels remain intact, thereby supporting Iowa's biofuels plants and providing the market certainty our industry needs to keep growing. We appreciate EPA's action and look forward to submitting comments during the process. We hope the rule can be finalized expeditiously."
###
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 over 5 billion gallons annually - including 34 million gallons of annual cellulosic ethanol production capacity - and 8 biodiesel facilities with the capacity to produce 408 million gallons annually. For more information, visit the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association website at: www.IowaRFA.org .