Exclusive: U.S. EPA grants biofuels waiver to billionaire Icahn's oil refinery - sources

[DonViejo]

Source: Reuters



APRIL 30, 2018 / 7:03 AM / UPDATED 2 HOURS AGO

Jarrett Renshaw, Chris Prentice
6 MIN READ

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has granted a financial hardship waiver to an oil refinery owned by billionaire Carl Icahn, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, exempting the Oklahoma facility from requirements under a federal biofuels law, according to two industry sources briefed on the matter.

The waiver enables Icahn’s CVR Energy Inc to avoid tens of millions of dollars in costs related to the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program. The regulation is meant to cut air pollution, reduce petroleum imports and support corn farmers by requiring refiners to mix billions of gallons of biofuels into the nation’s gasoline and diesel each year.

The Small Refiners Coalition, which represents companies that operate small refining facilities, has defended the EPA’s waiver program, saying the EPA is required by law to help small refineries struggling with the RFS and that the exemptions are crucial to their financial well-being.

But the exemption for CVR’s Wynnewood, Oklahoma, plant prompted fresh criticism from the powerful corn lobby, which already has accused Trump’s EPA of over-using the hardship waiver program in a way that hurts demand for ethanol.



Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-biofuels-epa-icahn-exclusive/exclusive-u-s-epa-grants-biofuels-waiver-to-billionaire-icahns-oil-refinery-sources-idUSKBN1I10YB?il=0

[greatlaurel]

1. This is a gift to oil companies and will drive down corn prices and devastate farm country.

This is really bad news. Lots of farm land will be up for sale after harvest season. The Chinese and Russians will be able to purchase lots of the best farm land in the world at fire sale prices, as farmers go bankrupt.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

4. So much for protecting the family farms that Trump loves almost as much as he does coal miners.

The fact that today's "family farm" is a multi-million dollar operation seems to pass everyone over. I guess the corn farmers can just put on their MAGA hats, climb into their air conditioned half-million dollar combines, and ride around their empty fields contemplating how they'd just been screwed by Don the Con in favor of one of his billionaire friends.

But her emails...

[rzemanfl]

2. Why are we talking about this when Hucklebery Pearl's feelings have been hurt?

Have we no compassion?

[turbinetree]

3. This is really fucked up.......................

this fucking asshole takes no fucking responsibility for his fucking actions.............. none

This asshole has operated under some special immunity for the harm that he has caused to workers and now, the air, water and since that asshole Pruitt walked over to this fucked heads office to get the green light to be the EPA non-administrator for air, water and people........................this is bull shit




Fucking November 2018 cannot get here fast enough

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

5. I understand why Trump wasn't there -- he's a coward -- but why send SHS in his place?

Shouldn't Mike Pence have been next in line? Throwing Sanders into the lion's den was not only an act of cowardice but an act of cruelty. It's another example of how Donne Two Scoops despises women. In his mind there are only two kinds of women -- whores and Ivanka -- and to tell the truth, there are even somethings a prostitute won't do.

How SHS grinds up the facts to make a powder to create the perfect smokey eye was a great joke. Wolf said to her face what no person in the WH press room dare say: "Sarah, you're a liar."

[infullview]

6. Not sure that mixing ethanol with gas is a good idea either.

We need to simply get rid of gasoline. Many studies have been done about how inefficient ethanol fermentation is, and that the corn grown would be better put to use to feed poor countries. Yes, the EPA is a disaster and getting worse, but we should focus back to CAFE standards for fuel efficiency and clean alternative solutions. Agra-Business has been sucking the public dole dry since the great depression. It's just corporate welfare in disguise of food security.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

8. There is no "simply" about getting rid of gasoline. . . . . nt

[infullview]

10. The idea is simple, the process is not

If we don't turn the tied on gasoline and other fuels that are not carbon neutral, we won't have to worry about it. Nature has a way of purifying and re balancing that may not include man kind.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

7. Financial Hardship my ass. More like: Trump's buddy. . . . nt

[mpcamb]

9. trump tipped Icahn to the tune of $31,300,000 earlier this year

And did the same with bio-fuels back in November.
It's beyond buddies; it's collusion and conspiracy to manipulate markets.