"Following the court ruling, the EPA had been expected to apply the decision nationwide and drastically cut the number of exemptions it issues, Ryan McCrimmon reports for Politico's Morning Agriculture. "But the president faced heavy pressure from Republicans and Attorney General William Barr not to do so. That prompted Trump to instead request an extension until March 24 on whether to appeal the ruling." In the end, the administration apparently decided not to appeal, even after more than a dozen Republican senators from oil-producing states published an open letter to the president warning that allowing the ruling to stand would financially endanger small refineries.
"The decision appears to end a years-long battle between the rival oil and corn industries, two crucial political constituencies for President Donald Trump, over the waiver program," Kelly reports. "Refiners argue the waivers are crucial to keeping small refining facilities in business, but agriculture representatives say they have been overused and hurt farmers by eroding demand for corn-based ethanol."
The battle centers over the Renewable Fuel Standard, which requires refiners to blend increasing amounts of ethanol into their gasoline each year. Small refiners that would be financially hurt by adhering to the blending standards can seek waivers, but corn interests have accused the Trump administration of improperly using the waivers as a way to get around the RFS, Kelly reports.
The EPA appears to be complying with the court ruling, and as of late February had scaled back on granting waivers, Ryan McCrimmon reports.
from The Rural Blog https://ift.tt/2QKexkC EPA refuses to appeal court decision limiting small refinery biofuels waivers, handing a win to corn and ethanol interests - Entrepreneur Generations
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