EPA says “zero evidence” of negative impact on ethanol demand from hardship waiver decision

In Washington, Reuters reports that an Environmental Protection Agency spokesman said in a statement that there is zero evidence that last week’s approval of 31 hardship waivers for small refiners under the Renewable Fuel Standard has negatively impacted ethanol producers. Both ethanol and biodiesel producers from POET to World Energy have announced over the past week complete or partial shutdowns in production in response to the demand destruction inherent in the waivers that allow refiners to avoid their RIN obligations.