According to sources familiar with the matter the Trump Administration has temporarily frozen the small refiner renewable fuel standard waivers pending a review. National Farmers Union’s Biofuels Advisor Anne Steckel says that’s a big win for the renewable fuels industry

She says the program isn’t working as it’s been designed to and several waivers have been handed out to larger refiners as a result.

Steckel says if the refiner waiver problem isn’t fixed, the new renewable volume obligation numbers for 2019 that are up for release will be negated.

The Environmental Protection Agency granted 29 waivers in 2017, up from 14 in 2015 and 20 in 2016. Some of the recent waivers have gone to Andeavor which just merged with Marathon Petroleum Corporation and Chevron Corporation.