U.S.: government approves biofuel waivers for small refiners

On August 22, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced decisions on 175 Small Refinery Exemption (SRE) petitions under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), addressing petitions that had been left unresolved for years across different administrations.

The RFS requires refiners to blend billions of gallons of renewable fuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, into the nation’s transportation fuel supply or purchase compliance credits known as Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs). Small refiners that process fewer than 75,000 barrels per day can petition the EPA for exemptions if they can demonstrate that meeting the renewable fuel blending requirements during specific compliance periods disproporti