Following Hinson’s Advocacy, EPA Announces Proposed Rule to Reallocate 100% of Exempt Biofuels Gallons

Image October 13, 2026 Press Release Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (IA-02) applauded the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed supplemental rule to reallocate 100% of exempted biofuels gallons, ensuring refinery exemptions don’t cut into demand for American-made biofuels. This announcement follows relentless advocacy from Rep. Hinson, including an agreement she helped secure in August and a visit from EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin to an Iowa ethanol facility on Monday. “Biofuels should be front and center in any plan to unleash domestic energy production and lower costs at the pump. Earlier this year, the administration announced the strongest biofuels blending targets in history, driving demand for Iowa ag products and new investment in our rural communities. “Today’s proposal reflects the 100% reallocation agreement I helped secure in August—making sure refinery exemptions don’t reduce demand for homegrown biofuels and our farmers and producers are made whole. With farmers facing such difficult conditions right now, getting this across the finish line is a big deal. I’m grateful to Administrator Zeldin for working with me to protect the Renewable Fuel Standard, and I’ll keep pushing relentlessly for Iowa farmers and biofuels producers throughout this process.” – Congresswoman Ashley Hinson Background: In August, the EPA granted small refinery exemptions for 29 refineries – totaling 1.76 billion renewable identification numbers (RINs) – allowing them to avoid certain biofuels blending requirements. Following the announced exemptions, Hinson worked directly with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and other administration officials to help secure an agreement to move forward with 100% reallocation of new exempt gallons. Read her statement pushing for action HERE . Last week, Hinson joined a bipartisan letter urging the administration to move forward with the proposed rule with 100% reallocation. Without 100% reallocation, exemptions would reduce biofuels blending levels, putting even more financial pressure on our farmers. On October 12, Hinson hosted EPA Administrator Zeldin at an ethanol facility in Dyersville , where she reiterated the importance of protecting demand for Iowa biofuels and making farmers whole. ###