Government Security News

Special Section: Protecting the Grid
Utah-Based Washakie Renewable Energy, LLC
WASHINGTON, March 19 – The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department
of Justice (DOJ) today announced a
settlement with Utah-based Washakie
Renewable Energy, LLC, that resolves
allegations that the company
generated more than
7.2 million invalid renewable
fuel credits worth
more than $2 million.
From January
to October of 2010,
Washakie generated
more than 7.2 million
Renewable Identification
Numbers,
or RINs, and reported
to EPA that it produced
biodiesel associated with
those RINs at its Plymouth,
Utah facility. During that time,
however, Washakie did not produce
any biodiesel at the Plymouth
facility. The biodiesel associated with the 7.2
million RINs would have accounted for a reduction
of emissions equivalent to more than 30,000
metric tons of carbon dioxide. Washakie has purchased
and retired from the market an equivalent
number of RINs, which achieved this reduction of
emissions.
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Renewable fuel producers and importers
generate RINs for each gallon of renewable fuel in
the U.S. market that meets greenhouse gas
emissions reduction standards established
under the Renewable
Fuel Standard. Washakie
will pay a $3 million penalty
under the settlement,
which was
lodged today in the
U.S. District Court
for the District of
Columbia.
“This case is
another example of
EPA’s commitment
to maintain the integrity
of the Renewable
Fuel Standard program,”
said Cynthia Giles,
EPA Assistant Administrator
for Enforcement and Compliance
Assurance. “Making sure
producers are supporting their claims
with production of actual renewable fuels is critical
to reducing greenhouse gas emissions that are
fueling climate change.”
“The defendant made quite a profit by failing
to adhere to the requirements of the Renewable
Fuel Program regulations,” said Assistant At-