Trump Administration Does Not Seek Re-Hearing of Tenth Circuit SRE Ruling, ICGA Applauds

After hearing the Trump administration did not seek a re-hearing of a recent ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit regarding small refinery exemptions (SREs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard, Illinois Corn Growers Association President Bill Leigh, a farmer from Minonk, made the following statement:

“We have always believed that the EPA overstepped its authority in the granting of so many small refinery exemptions in 2016 and 2017. The tenth circuit agreed with us. And today, knowing that the EPA will abide by the decision and not seek a re-hearing is a tremendous relief during this time of crisis. Allowing the ruling to stand is the right thing to do.”

For the 2016-2018 RFS compliance years, EPA issued 85 SREs eroding more than 4 billion gallons of renewable fuel blending requirements.

< Older Post

Dr. Yan Zhang, Justin Moore, Rod Weinzierl, Rep. Nikki Budzinski, Dr. Christopher Slaten, and Dr. Pr

Rep. Budzinski Requests Federal Funding for National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center

By Lyndi Allen • May 26, 2026

Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski is requesting federal funding for the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center through her Community Project Funding requests.

Shane and Taylor

Meet the Robot Changing How Illinois Farmers Fight Weeds

By Tara Desmond • May 21, 2026

Solinftec's Solix robot uses AI to target weeds in real time, cutting chemical use up to 90%. Solar-powered, autonomous, and built for Midwest farms.

Photo taken in McLean County Museum of History

Illinois Ag Across Time: Episode 2

By Tara Desmond • May 21, 2026

Illinois Ag Across Time - Episode 2: Tracing 200 years of Illinois farm families, innovation, and the land that fed a nation.

Don Meyer

Illinois Ag Across Time: Episode 1

By Tara Desmond • May 21, 2026

Illinois Ag Across Time — Tracing 200 years of Illinois farm families, innovation, and the land that fed a nation.

Hammer striking corn kernels on a wooden surface, with kernels scattering in a rustic barn setting

Ethanol: Fact vs. Fiction

By Lyndi Allen • May 21, 2026

Ethanol is a powerhouse for American farms, fuels American vehicles, and has strengthened America’s economy for decades, but remains one of the most misunderstood fuels on the road today.

Cargo containers lined up at a port beside a canal, under a bright sky

From River Locks to Global Markets

By Lyndi Allen • May 21, 2026

For decades, America’s inland waterways operated on a system that couldn’t keep up—aging infrastructure, delayed projects, and a funding model that forced farmers and shippers to wait.