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EPA chief fails to alleviate Iowans’ E15 and RFS concerns

Acting EPA administrator Andrew Wheeler says there is no decision yet on regulations that would allow E15 to be sold year-round.

“I can’t tell you the timeline,” Wheeler says. “We are mindful of needing to have a decision on that before the growing season next year.”

Wheeler spoke with reporters Monday after meeting privately with Iowa commodity group leaders at the Iowa State Fair. He indicated the E15 decision would have to be coupled with some sort of accommodation for the oil industry, which didn’t sit well with Iowa Farm Bureau president Craig Hill.

“It’s been Christmas for the oil industry on every one of these deals. Where’s our deal?” Hill said. “We keep talking about deals, but we’ve not gotten a thing.”

Hill said farmers and the ethanol industry appreciate that the EPA has met the deadline for setting the federal production mandate for ethanol, but they’re frustrated the waivers granted to oil refineries have effectively reduced the mandated level of ethanol production.

Radio Iowa contributed to this story.