The wait begins for a southern Oklahoma refinery operator in its U.S. Supreme Court fight over EPA exemptions and waivers to mandated biofuels requirements.
The Court heard arguments this week in Hollyfrontier Cheyenne Refining LLC v. Renewable Fuels Association which includes CVR Energy, operator of the Wynnewood refinery in Oklahoma. The two refinery operators challenged a 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in 2020 that disallowed waivers and exemptions to the Renewable Fuel Standard.
Reuters reported that it appeared the justices were divided over the case, based on their questions of the attorneys.
At issue in the case is whether the EPA impermissibly exempted units of HollyFrontier Corp.(HFC.N) and CVR Energy Inc (CVI.N) in 2017 and 2018 when they had not received continuous prior extensions of an initial exemption.
The justices focused many of their questions on the different meanings of the word “extension” that could either help or hurt the refineries’ appeal reported Reuters.
Reporting on the story varied from different states including Iowa, heart of the cornbelt and home to ethanol operations.
Click here for Reuters report.
Click here for the story from the North Platte Telegraph,
Click here for story from Iowa City Capital Dispatch.