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EPA ADMINISTRATOR WHEELER RESPONDS TO RFS CRITICISM
Oct. 22, 2019
POLITICO reports:
EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler on Monday attempted to reassure furious biofuel groups, who have run out of patience with the EPA, that they'll get their full allotment of ethanol blending next year. Corn growers, ethanol producers and lawmakers have complained that the blending rule released last week was a "bait and switch" rather than a real fix to their demand problems created by the agency's heavy use of blending exemptions for oil refiners.
But Wheeler claims it will all work out: "I think a lot of people who had a knee jerk reaction, [the rule] wasn't exactly what they were expecting," he said on Monday during an interview with Nexstar Media Group. "If they look at it and they read it carefully, they will see it will get us to the 15 billion gallons of ethanol that the president promised and that's in the statute."
President Donald Trump also touted the new proposal during a Cabinet meeting on Monday, claiming it was "fully approved" and that he spoke with Iowa Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst about it. (Grassley's office said the senator had not spoken with Trump or Wheeler since the new rule's release last week. Ernst spoke with Wheeler on Thursday, but her office did not respond to a question about whether she'd spoken to Trump.)
Just a misunderstanding? During the Cabinet meeting, Perdue suggested that the ag industry was simply confused about the details of the new blending rule. "Once they fully understand what you've done here, they'll be fine as they see it implemented," Perdue said to Trump.
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