Monroe Energy Files New Lawsuit Challenging EPA On RFS

Monroe Energy, LLC (Monroe), a refinery and subsidiary of Delta Airlines, has filed another lawsuit challenging EPA's implementation of the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). In this latest suit, Monroe argues that blenders, not refiners and importers, of fuel should be deemed the obligated parties under the RFS. Monroe does not have blending capacity like some larger refiners.

Monroe asserts that the fact that EPA in its proposed rule to set the 2014 RFS renewable volume obligations (RVO) now proposes to consider the practical ability to blend the amounts of renewable fuels under the law warrants a reconsideration of the obligated parties defined under the final RFS rule issued in 2010. Because Monroe lacks blending capacity, the Company argues that it is forced to spend millions of dollars to comply with its requirements as an obligated party under the law.