EPA releases hardship waivers data showing 29 refineries were granted 13.62 billion gallons of exemptions in 2017

In Washington, Reuters reports that the Environmental Protection Agency finally released data regarding small refinery hardship waivers, saying that 29 refineries were granted waivers from RIN compliance in 2017 compared to 19 in 2016 and just seven the year before. A total of 13.62 billion gallons of ethanol were exempted in 2017 as a result of the waivers, twice as much as the 7.8 billion gallons waives in 2016. The agency has yet to grant any of the 11 waivers requested in 2018 and there are still 11 requests outstanding from 2017 that have yet to be granted.