Coalition Urges EPA to Reject Petition That Would Raise Gas Prices and Undermine RFS
A coalition representing farmers, ethanol producers, fuel retailers and fuel distribution companies the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reject a recent petition by CVR Energy to alter the Renewable Fuel Standard鈥檚 credit trading program. CVR Energy鈥檚 petition is a counterproductive proposal that would undermine the RFS and ultimately lead to higher prices for consumers.
CVR Energy has long sought to change the RFS, and in late December 2023 petitioned EPA to prohibit many businesses from possessing and trading Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs). RINS are the credits that EPA uses to ensure obligated parties satisfy their obligations under the RFS.
鈥淭he existing RIN market structure, which has been in place since EPA finalized 鈥楻FS2鈥� regulations nearly 14 years ago, has worked effectively and efficiently to facilitate compliance with annual renewable volume obligations,鈥� the organizations wrote. 鈥淎ltering the structure of the RIN system would have disastrous impacts on renewable fuel producers, fuel marketers and retailers, obligated parties, and consumers in the form of higher prices at the pump. It would also significantly undermine the statutory purpose of the RFS.鈥�
The letter was signed by the ; (NACS); , Representing America鈥檚 Travel Centers and Truckstops; : America鈥檚 Leading Fuel Marketers; and the .
These organizations urged EPA to reject the petition for the following reasons, among others:
- CVR鈥檚 request is untimely: 鈥渢he rules targeted by the petition were issued more than a decade ago.鈥�
- CVR鈥檚 鈥渄esired structure of the RIN market is contrary to the RFS鈥檚 policy objectives, untenable in practice, and legally unmoored from any objective reading of the enabling statute.鈥�
- CVR鈥檚 鈥渄esired outcome would raise fuel prices by eliminating fuel retailers鈥� ability to use RINs to lower their costs of goods sold, as they do today.鈥�
Subscribe to Updates
The 黑料社区Foundation and 黑料社区provide a breadth of information created to strengthen travel plazas鈥� ability to meet the needs of the traveling public in an age of disruption. This includes knowledge filled blog posts, articles and publications. If you would like to receive a digest of blog post and articles directly in your inbox, please provide your name, email and the frequency of the updates you want to receive the email digest.
