Lummis Introduces Legislation to Protect Small Refineries From Regulations Under the Renewable Fuel Standard

U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) Wednesday introduced the Small Refinery Relief Act to decrease the burden small refineries face when complying with the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The bill would allow for small refineries to generate additional compliance credits, which would help Wyoming’s small refineries meet their obligations under the RFS.

Senator Lummis said the EPA’s  refusal to grant small refineries exemptions from the Renewable Fuel Standard mandate is just another attack on domestic oil and gas production that has caused gas prices to increase by 52 percent under President Biden.  Lummis added that we need to be doing everything we can to lower gas prices and unleash energy production in Wyoming and across this country, instead, the Biden administration has once again chosen to ignore the law, which will undoubtedly lead to higher prices at the pump and increase America’s dependence on foreign oil.

Lummis introduced the bill after the EPA refused to grant nearly every small refinery’s exemption from the RFS last week. Following a 2020 decision from the Tenth Circuit, EPA has refused to grant any small refinery exemptions despite a clear mandate from Congress to do so. The Small Refinery Relief Act would provide relief to small refineries by removing the discretion EPA currently has in granting exemptions and instead allow those small refineries to generate additional compliance credits beyond what is currently allowed by statute.