Growth Energy slams additional gap-year requests

In Washington, Growth Energy reaffirmed its opposition to so-called ‘gap-year’ exemptions from the nation’s biofuel laws after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirmed nine new petitions from refiners seeking to skirt obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard – bringing the total to 98, including 67 retroactive exemption requests.

“Oil companies are pouring gasoline on the fire, while the EPA seems content to watch it burn,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “President Trump needs to put his foot down and demand the EPA send a clear signal to struggling rural communities that the demand destruction is over. These so-called ‘gap year’ refinery exemptions violate the letter and spirit of the law, but refiners still seem to think regulators will treat them like ‘trick or treat candy.’ Leaders in the House and Senate and governors across the heartland are all raising the alarm because these exemptions represent a direct threat to the rural recovery, which already faces fresh headwinds due to the spread of COVID-19. EPA must deny these exemptions without further delay.”