Released September 04, 2019 | SUGAR LAND
en
President Donald Trump's recent decision to exempt some oil refiners from adding ethanol to their fuels spurred a backlash from corn farmers, causing the Trump administration to try and placate the group. The oil and gas industry has been especially vocal in opposing an awaited proposal from the White House that aims to bolster ethanol producers.
Among the groups trying to dissuade Trump from decisions that would support the ethanol sector is the American Petroleum Institute, which wrote a letter with other industry groups arguing that Trump's overtures to farmers regarding ethanol blending was anything but a win-win action in the ethanol debate, according to The Hill.
However, Trump's actions on ethanol, allowing for year-round use of high-ethanol E-15 fuel and vowing to reconsider waivers for refineries, show he considers those farmers to be an important part of his base too. Trump had promised he would review the ethanol waiver program during a visit to Iowa earlier in the summer, but just two months later he gave the go-ahead to the Environmental Protection Agency to issue the waivers to small refineries who had applied for hardship exemptions, drawing ire from Iowa farmers.
Since then, the president has been hinting at a fix for farmers that's expected to include a large increase in the amount of ethanol refiners are obligated to blend into their fuels.
Among the groups trying to dissuade Trump from decisions that would support the ethanol sector is the American Petroleum Institute, which wrote a letter with other industry groups arguing that Trump's overtures to farmers regarding ethanol blending was anything but a win-win action in the ethanol debate, according to The Hill.
However, Trump's actions on ethanol, allowing for year-round use of high-ethanol E-15 fuel and vowing to reconsider waivers for refineries, show he considers those farmers to be an important part of his base too. Trump had promised he would review the ethanol waiver program during a visit to Iowa earlier in the summer, but just two months later he gave the go-ahead to the Environmental Protection Agency to issue the waivers to small refineries who had applied for hardship exemptions, drawing ire from Iowa farmers.
Since then, the president has been hinting at a fix for farmers that's expected to include a large increase in the amount of ethanol refiners are obligated to blend into their fuels.
