White House Looks For ‘Win-Win’ on Ethanol
It was a roller-coaster of a week on the ethanol debate.
President Trump is open to reforming the country’s biofuels policy if it can be done in a way that protects jobs in both the refining and agriculture industries, senators said late last week after meeting with Trump on the issue.
The meeting came days after an announcement from the EPA that it would slightly increase the requirements for the amount of biofuels to be blended into the gasoline supply.
Nine lawmakers requested the meeting with Trump last week to argue that the Renewable Fuel Standard, or RFS, a law requiring refiners to blend increasing amounts of biofuels like corn-based ethanol into the fuel supply every year, was threatening to put refineries in their districts out of business.
The Trump administration had ruled in favor of Big Corn and against the refining industry in a series of decisions this year, with senators on both sides using parliamentary procedures like holds on administrative appointments to punish rivals.
Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, who led the lawmaker delegation, said Trump was open to a “win-win” solution.
“The group as a whole agreed with the president to reconvene next week and to expand the group and work together to find a (solution) that is a win for blue-
collar workers, a win for jobs, but also a win for farmers at the same time,” he told Fox News.
Sources: Reuters, Washington Times