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With E15 victory secured, industry renews focus on SREs

The ethanol industry achieved a big victory with EPA’s final approval of year-round E15. But Iowa Renewable Fuels Association executive director Monte Shaw says if the agency continues to grant RFS small refinery exemptions (SREs), it’s all for naught.

“Opening up the E15 market is awesome. It’s new demand, and it’s a boost to our morale and our markets,” Shaw says. “But if two weeks from now you grant a whole bunch of small refinery exemptions and destroy a billion gallons of demand, you’ve overwhelmed any possible benefit from the E15 announcement today.

“Please, please Mr. President—do not undo the positive today by granting small refinery exemptions that are not justified under the current market conditions.”

Shaw spoke with Brownfield at the grand opening of the new Elite Octane ethanol plant in Atlantic, Iowa.