The Environmental Protection Agency on Aug. 7 announced that it would deny Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s (R) request for a waiver of the nationwide Renewable Fuels Standard, which requires that a certain volume of renewable fuels such as ethanol be blended into the fuel supply.

Perry had requested the waiver citing concerns over escalating corn prices some say are related to the increased production of ethanol. But EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson says his agency found “no compelling evidence” that the mandated biofuel volume would cause severe harm to the economy.

Bob Dinnereen, president of the Renewable Fuels Association, praised the decision, saying that granting Perry’s request would have set back development of the cellulosic biofuels industry.