Sen. Chuck Grassley has asked federal regulators for updates on concerns raised by Midwest attorneys general, including Iowa AG Brenna Bird, about what they call “irreconcilable statements” made by oil refiners seeking exemptions from the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Grassley, who serves as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to respond to inquiries on any actions taken in response to an October 2025 request from Bird and her counterparts in South Dakota and Nebraska. In their letter, the attorneys general requested an investigation into whether some refiners misled regulators by claiming disproportionate economic harm when applying for RFS waivers, while simultaneously telling shareholders and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that they were financially strong and outperforming competitors. Grassley says, “[Bird’s] letter raises meaningful questions about Small Refinery Exemptions. Iowa’s Biofuel producers need timely answers about the health of their industry. For 20 years, the Renewable Fuels Standard has supported biofuels producers, family farmers, and rural communities. Its integrity is essential for long-term success.” The push from Bird, Grassley, and other Iowa elected officials comes after a recent biofuels industry report showed that Iowa is still the top-producing state in the nation, but other states are beginning to close the gap in overall production.
