The Renewable Fuel Association is disappointed with the Environmental Protection Agency’s move to grant five more RFS waivers to small refiners for 2017. RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper says it’s a slap in the face for the renewable fuels industry, which has already suffered significant demand destruction from previous exemptions.

He says EPA granting the five waivers equals more than 360 million gallons of ethanol blending obligations struck from the market.

Cooper says his group’s only recourse is to continue their battle against the exemptions in court.

With yesterday’s exemptions, more than 2.6 billion gallons of RFS blending obligations have been granted. Two more petitions have also been received for 2018 exemptions, bringing the total to 39.