The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. environmental regulator, ruled on 34 petitions from small refineries seeking small-refinery exemptions (SREs) from their 2025 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) obligations. It granted exemptions to 29 refineries: 18 received full exemptions and 11 received 50% exemptions, allowing them collectively to avoid retiring 1.76 billion Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs), which track compliance with the biofuel mandate. EPA also finalized a rule delaying the 2025 RFS compliance date until October 1 and providing additional benefits to all refiners. The agency said it intends to finalize a supplemental rule before the end of October restoring the RINs exempted in the latest decisions to the 2026 and 2027 RFS volumes. In its 2026-2027 RFS rule announced in March, EPA had estimated that 2025 SREs would total 990 million RINs. It established supplemental volumes for 2026 and 2027 to prevent exemptions from reducing current biodiesel and renewable diesel production or stopping investment in additional capacity. President Trump and EPA pledged to restore the 770 million RINs exempted above that earlier estimate. Clean Fuels Vice President of Federal Affairs Kurt Kovarik said the industry has been working overtime to meet the historic RFS volumes announced in March, producing biodiesel, renewable diesel and SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) at a record pace while supporting farmers, rural investment, energy security and lower pump prices. Clean Fuels said it disagrees that small refiners require relief from what it called the prior administration's tepid 2025 RFS volumes, but welcomed the White House commitment to protect biofuel producers and said it would work with EPA to complete the supplemental rule. The group also said it would continue pressing the administration to reallocate future SREs so they do not harm farmers and other clean-fuel stakeholders, while thanking Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, Representative Ashley Hinson and other congressional supporters.