Coming off a tough year for biofuels in 2019, a federal appeals court’s ruling against the Environmental Protection Agency’s handling of small refinery exemptions is offering the industry a shot of optimism.

A disappointing turnout and the Iowa Democratic Party’s historic debacle in counting the results of the 2020 caucuses are fueling calls to scrap the state’s first-in-the-nation status, which for decades has guaranteed a prominent place for agriculture and biofuel policy in national politics.

Sales of a 15% ethanol blend were boosted by last year’s lifting of summertime sales restrictions.

EPA is not expected to meet the statutory Nov. 30 deadline this year, and supplemental rulemaking to address gallons waived through Small Refinery Exemptions is said to be the holdup.