EPA Greenlights 34 Tiny Refineries' Fuel Breaks
Published Date: 9/2/2026
Notice
Summary
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is providing notification of its final action entitled August 31, 2026 Decision on Petitions for RFS Small Refinery Exemptions ("August 31, 2026 SRE Decisions Action") in which EPA issued decisions on 34 small refinery exemption (SRE) petitions under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program for the 2025 compliance year. EPA is also reissuing a decision for 1 petition for the 2024 compliance year that was originally issued in the August 3, 2026 Decision on Petitions for RFS Small Refinery Exemptions. EPA is providing this notification for public awareness of, and the basis for, EPA's decision announced on August 31, 2026.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Decisions on 34 SRE Petitions
On August 31, 2026 EPA decided 34 small refinery exemption (SRE) petitions for the 2025 compliance year: 18 petitions received full (100%) exemptions, 11 received partial (50%) exemptions, 3 were denied, and 2 were found ineligible. EPA also reissued a partial exemption for one petition for the 2024 compliance year.
Returning Retired RINs to Implement Exemptions
EPA will, when granting an exemption to a small refinery that already retired RINs for compliance, return some or all of those retired RINs commensurate with the degree of the exemption. EPA explains this approach is intended to minimize disruptions to the RIN market and avoid a sudden influx of current vintage RINs that could decrease RIN prices and threaten future renewable fuel investments.
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