By Mario Parker and Jennifer A. Dlouhy
Under a 2007 energy law, refiners are required to blend biofuels such as ethanol, made from corn, and biodiesel, derived from soybeans, into petroleum. Federal law authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency to issue exemptions for small refineries facing a “disproportionate economic hardship.”
Opposite Camps
As the 2020 presidential election heats up, Trump is caught between two key constituencies — farmers and oil companies — in opposite camps. Last month in Iowa, Trump was greeted and thanked by farmers during a celebration of the administration’s move to allow year-round sales of so-called E15 gasoline, a mixture of 15% ethanol, compared to the widely used 10%. Still, they urged him directly — and publicly — to rein in the waivers.
“We are so thankful to have E15 year-round,” but Trump must work with EPA to resolve the waiver process, Ernst said.
Trump administration officials have been clashing over how to handle the exemptions, with Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue pushing the EPA to reallocate past waived biofuel quotas to other refiners as part of a coming RFS “reset” regulation, said two people familiar with the matter who asked not to be named detailing private deliberations.
In the meantime, the dispute is preventing EPA action on some 38 applications from refineries seeking exemptions from 2018 biofuel-blending quotas.
Because of the squabbling among the EPA, USDA and Department of Energy, said one person briefed on the situation, the matter ultimately may have to be resolved by the president.
In recent weeks, both oil and agricultural groups have taken to Trump’s favorite television news source, Fox News, among other outlets to make their cases on the waivers.
Ernst, along with other Midwestern lawmakers, including Senator Deb Fischer, a Nebraska Republican, have introduced legislation to increase transparency in the waiver process.
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