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Ernst questions Perdue about Pruitt and the RFS

Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue, appearing this morning before a Senate Ag Committee hearing on the state of rural America, was asked about issues surrounding EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and his handling of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

Iowa Senator Joni Ernst thanked Perdue for his defense of the RFS, but expressed her concerns about the so-called “small refinery hardship waivers” Pruitt has been granting to oil refiners.

“Some of these refiners are neither small nor facing hardships—and I’m very, very upset about this action that the administrator has taken that would destroy our demand for biofuels,” Ernst said.

Perdue said he has had several conversations with Pruitt about the hardship waivers, “letting (him) know that our farmers and biofuel producers are very concerned about that”.

“Statutorily, I don’t have any kind of hammer,” Perdue continued. “What I do have is the power of persuasion with the administrator and the President to…let them understand how the instructions he (Pruitt) was given last fall for maintaining the RVO obligation at 15 billion gallons has essentially been circumvented by the waivers.”

Perdue said he is also pushing Pruitt to approve an RVP waiver for E15, allowing year-round sales of the higher ethanol blend.

“I have exhorted him to do the E15 waiver, as I have the President,” Perdue said. “I am encouraging the President to go ahead and make good on the commitment to do that, while letting the petroleum industry know that the waivers granted have been the essence of any kind of RIN cap—an effective RIN cap—that they have enjoyed this year already.”

AUDIO: Excerpt from Senate Agriculture Committee hearing–Senator Ernst and Secretary Perdue

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