News

Another White House biofuels meeting is on tap

Another White House meeting to discuss biofuels policy will take place early next week.

The offices of Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley have confirmed to Brownfield that the two Iowa senators have been invited to the meeting. Other invited senators, according to media reports, are Ted Cruz of Texas and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.

Grassley and Ernst will likely keep pushing to make E15 available year-round, while continuing their criticism of RFS “hardship waivers” being given to oil refiners. Grassley has been very critical of EPA administrator Scott Pruitt’s handling of the waivers.

“I think this President is trying to keep every campaign promise he made and I think Pruitt is undermining the President’s campaign promise of 15 billion gallons, through these waivers,” Grassley told ag reporters earlier this week.

An Ernst spokesperson, in a statement provided to Brownfield, said, “In light of EPA’s unprecedented action destroying demand for biofuels, the Senator will continue to stress the immediate need to lift outdated federal restrictions on the sale of E15 year-round, a move that would encourage competition at the pump, drive down consumer fuel costs, and boost farm income.”

President Trump will reportedly attend the meeting, along with other administration officials.