Ernst Says President Trump Is Upset by EPA’s Biofuels Rules

November 08, 2019

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by O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa) Iowa Senator Joni Ernst today said she’s talked directly with President Trump about the furor over proposed EPA rules which Ernst says do not fulfill the deal Trump struck in September on the renewable fuels standard.

“I did visit with the president actually, again, two nights ago on this issue and several other issues, but largely focused on the RFS,” Ernst said during a telephone conference call with Iowa reporters. “And the president is upset that this is not the same formula that we agreed on in the Oval Office.”

Ernst said there is what she calls “an opportunity for correction,” but she’s not sure now is the time for that to happen. A public comment period is currently underway on the EPA’s mandate on ethanol and biodiesel production in 2020.

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Ernst and Iowa’s other U.S. Senator, Chuck Grassley, have filed written statement today with the EPA, urging agency officials to “uphold their end of the bargain” that Trump struck with the biofuels industry.

“I think with overwhelming support, we can hope to fix this error that has been made, you know, it’s not an error. I think Andrew Wheeler, of course, did it on purpose,” Ernst said. READ MORE

Joni Ernst speaks with Trump in effort to resolve RFS issue (The Gazette)

Senators Stand Up for RFS (Energy.AgWired.com)

Senators urge EPA to accurately account for SREs (Ethanol Producer Magazine)

Iowa senators, governor push EPA to change plan on ethanol (The Hill)

Republicans Push EPA on RFS: GOP Senators and Iowa's Governor Tell EPA to Fix Its RFS Proposal (DTN Progressive Farmer)

SENATORS CALL ON EPA TO FIX PROPOSED RFS RULE (Brownfield Ag News)

Blunt calls on EPA to ensure Renewable Fuel Standard Rule will not hurt farmers (KFVS)

Letter: Time for Iowans to speak up for farmers (Kalona News)

Letter to the Editor - Standing up for biofuel (Northwest Signal)

RFA Thanks Senators for Standing Up for Renewable Fuel Standard (Renewable Fuels Association)

Midwest Senators Submit Comments on EPA’s Supplemental Rule on RFS Deal (Office of U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE))

CORN STATES TO EPA: TIME TO DELIVER: (Politico's Morning Energy)

Excerpt from Politico's Morning Energy: CORN STATES TO EPA: TIME TO DELIVER: Corn state senators are keeping up the pressure on both EPA and Trump to ensure that refiners blend the full 15 billion gallons of ethanol into the nation's fuel supply. EPA surprised corn-staters with its proposed supplemental rule for the 2020 blending requirements, which ethanol producers say does not conform to what they expected. Seven senators filed comments with EPA today making that point, and Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley added in a tweet Thursday evening, "EPA Dir Wheeler needs 2keep Pres Trump's promise He does not want 2make a liar out of the Pres."

Rounds takes Midwestern approach: Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) had lunch with Trump Thursday. "I appreciated the opportunity to talk to him about the shortcomings of the EPA's proposed rule on the RFS," Rounds tweeted. "Glad he re-confirmed his commitment to assuring 15 billion gallons of ethanol is blended into gasoline annually." READ MORE

Excerpt from Energy.AgWired.com: A group of Midwest state Senators submitted comments to the Environmental Protection Agency yesterday supporting the Renewable Fuel Standard. Sens. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Joni Ernst (R-IA), John Thune (R-S.D.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), and Mike Braun (R-Ind.) each submitted comments regarding the EPA’s supplemental rule on the RFS and individual letters to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, in which they expressed concerns about the way the agency would calculate the reallocation of renewable fuel gallons lost due to exemptions for oil refineries.

“It is time again for the EPA to get this policy right, respect the President’s intent, and uphold the law as it was written. This means providing certainty that they will ensure that 15 billion gallons of ethanol will be blended each year,” said Sen. Ernst.

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The comment period on the EPA supplemental proposal will remain open until November 29. READ MORE

Excerpt from Ethanol Producer Magazine: “Just this week, the CEO of a major oil refinery bragged that small refinery exemptions were ‘a real cash flow that [they] get every year.’ This is at the expense of farmers and biofuel producers. The EPA’s proposed rule fails to ensure that 15 billion gallons of conventional ethanol are actually blended into our nation’s fuel supply. In my letter, I called on Administrator Wheeler to fulfill the president’s commitment and provide certainty for rural America,” said Fischer, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. Read her letter here.

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“Plain and simple, if the market for biofuels does not trust EPA to implement the proposal President Trump negotiated, the market will not make investments in biofuels – a dangerous spiral for Iowa farmers and producers which will only lead to more plants closed and jobs lost in the heartland. It is time again for EPA to get this policy right, respect the President’s intent, and uphold the law as it was written. This means providing certainty that EPA will ensure that 15 billion gallons of ethanol will be blended each year,” said Ernst, member of the Environment and Public Works Committee. Read her letter here.

“While I appreciate the administration’s commitment to restore integrity to the RFS and provide that at least 15 billion gallons of conventional biofuels are blended into the fuel supply, the proposed supplemental rule unfortunately lacks safeguards that will assure its intent. As you know, resolution of this matter is of critical importance to agriculture stakeholders in South Dakota and across the country, and I urge EPA to reconsider the incorporation of language to make certain that all gallons waived by SREs will be accounted for in final RVOs.” said Thune. Read his letter here.

“We’re grateful to President Trump for his commitment to assuring 15 billion gallons of ethanol is blended into our fuel supply annually,” said Rounds. “However, the EPA’s proposed rule fails to honor the agreement which the president directed them to formalize. Taking steps to fully restore the integrity of the RFS will honor the agreement as Congress intended.” Read his letter here.

“Missouri farm families have faced a number of challenges over the past year, from catastrophic flooding to market uncertainty and now the EPA’s failure to uphold its commitments to the biofuels industry,” said Sentor Blunt. “Renewable energy policies like the RFS have helped diversify our nation’s fuel supply while creating and sustaining jobs, strengthening local economies, and lowering gas prices. I urge the administration to produce a final rule that addresses the concerns my colleagues and I have raised and supports America’s biofuels producers.” Read his letter here.

“The state of Indiana is the fifth largest ethanol producing state in the country,” said Braun. “I urge the EPA to implement the agreement in a way that provides certainty to Hoosier farmers and refiners.” Read his letter here. READ MORE