Statement Courtesy of Iowa Soybean Association President Tim Bardole of Rippey, Iowa

"Iowa soybean farmers and the biodiesel industry welcome President Trump's decision not to join an appeal of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit's ruling in Renewable Fuels Association v. EPA. The ruling invalidated several of the Environmental Protection Agency’s small refinery exemptions to the federal Renewable Fuel Standard.

 We are hopeful this puts us back on the path to restoring the Renewable Fuel Standard to the positive energy policy Congress originally intended. The EPA’s persistent sidestepping of the RFS law was illegal, as this court ruling verified. We’re optimistic the president will at last put a stop to EPA handing out exemptions to refiners that don’t deserve or need them. We urge the administration to apply the court’s ruling nationwide and stop this unnecessary damage to our industry for good.

The soybean industry recognizes Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, Gov. Kim Reynolds and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig for their leadership on this issue. It's critical that we continue fighting for policy that builds a domestic biofuel industry and a new market for American agriculture."