On Thursday the Environmental Protection Agency released the final update to the Renewable Fuel Standard, which mandates that increasing amounts of ethanol are blended into the nation's fuel supply over time. However, the rule didn't include a provision—which President Trump had promised farming and ethanol interests—to increase the amount of ethanol in the fuel mix to offset waivers his administration had granted to oil refineries.
"Instead the final rule says EPA will base oil refinery exemptions on Energy Department recommendations," David Pitt reports for The Associated Press. "Ethanol and corn industry groups said language in the rule leaves too much at the whim of federal bureaucrats and could cause ethanol use to fall short."
Monte Shaw, executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, accused Trump of turning his back on farmers. "Every farmer and biofuel supporter I have talked to is deeply disappointed, frustrated, and quite frankly angry," Shaw told Pitt. "I don’t think the White House truly understands the depth of discontent in farm country."
An EPA spokesperson said the agency withdrew the proposed provision because it needs to consider more options, Liz McCrimmon reports for Politico's Morning Agriculture.
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