New York | Reuters — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ditched a detailed plan that would have forced refiners to blend more biofuels into their gasoline and diesel in 2019 to compensate for volumes likely to be exempted under the agency’s small refinery hardship waiver program, according to newly released EPA documents. The plan would […] Read more
U.S. EPA scraps plan to force refiners to blend more biofuels
U.S. biofuels industry, advocates see hope in Pruitt’s successor
New York | Reuters — Corn growers and biofuel producers cheered the resignation of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt in the hope that his successor may give them more access and fewer threats to reducing domestic requirements. Pruitt led U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive efforts to roll back environmental protections. He drew the […] Read more
U.S. EPA won’t force refiners to make up waived biofuels volumes
New York | Reuters — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Friday it cannot make large oil refineries blend additional biofuels into their gasoline to make up for volumes waived under the small refinery hardship waiver program, unless Congress authorizes it. The agency’s decision was certain to anger the powerful U.S. corn lobby and […] Read more
Trump said considering counting ethanol exports toward quotas
New York | Reuters — U.S. President Donald Trump told a group of senators on Tuesday he is considering allowing exported ethanol to count toward the volumes mandated under the nation’s biofuels law, a move intended to appease both Big Oil and Big Corn by cutting the refiners’ regulatory costs while preserving demand for corn. […] Read more
Trump administration weighs high-ethanol fuel waiver to placate farmers
New York | Reuters — The Trump administration is considering allowing the sale of a higher-ethanol fuel blend in the summer, a source familiar with the issue said, a move that would placate corn growers worried about the future of U.S. biofuels policy. U.S. President Donald Trump recently met with the heads of the Environmental […] Read more
Trump seen putting biofuel reform push on ice, for now
New York | Reuters — The Trump administration will delay any moves to reform the nation’s biofuel policy for about three months, according to three sources briefed on the matter — a decision one of the sources said was meant to shield farmers worried about a potential trade war with China. The decision comes after […] Read more
Corn-state senators seek Trump meeting as biofuel changes loom
Reuters — A group of senators from U.S. corn states have asked President Donald Trump for a meeting about the nation’s biofuels law, amid expectations the administration will soon act to lower the regulation’s costs to the oil refining industry. The group of Republican senators wrote a letter to Trump on Thursday in which they […] Read more
Trump pushes Big Corn, Big Oil to break biofuels deadlock
New York | Reuters — U.S. President Donald Trump urged representatives from the rival oil and corn industries on Thursday to break a deadlock in talks over the future of the nation’s biofuels policy by accepting a deal involving reforms sought by both sides. Trump has arranged a series of talks between Big Corn and […] Read more
Trump pushes for more talks after ‘no deal’ on biofuels
Reuters — U.S. President Donald Trump has asked for more talks between representatives of the oil and corn industries after a meeting on Tuesday failed to yield an agreement on how to help refiners cope with the country’s biofuels policy. Trump has called the talks between Big Corn and Big Oil amid rising concern in […] Read more
Cruz urges U.S. biofuel policy revamp at rally for bankrupt refiner
Philadelphia | Reuters — Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas on Wednesday urged President Donald Trump’s administration to push for an overhaul of the nation’s biofuels policy, during a rally at a Pennsylvania oil refinery that blames its bankruptcy on the controversial regulation. “We need a federal government that stands up for workers, not against […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
