Big corn, big oil both blast Trump biofuel plan at EPA hearing
Source: Reuters
POLITICS OCTOBER 30, 2019 / 8:32 AM / UPDATED 4 HOURS AGO
Big corn, big oil both blast Trump biofuel plan at EPA hearing
Mark Weinraub
3 MIN READ
(Reuters) - Corn farmers, ethanol producers, refinery representatives, energy traders and state and local officials from the Midwest all blasted away at the Trump administration’s proposed biofuels plan for next year during a public hearing on Wednesday hosted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The hearing in Ann Arbor, Michigan, marks the second public meeting on the topic in as many days, airing the grievances of the opposing oil and corn constituencies President Donald Trump has been working to win over ahead of next year’s election.
At issue is a proposal unveiled this month by Trump’s EPA that would increase the amount of corn-based ethanol some oil refineries must blend next year to make up for volumes the agency expects to waive under its Small Refinery Exemption program.
The proposal was meant to please farmers, while securing a program the oil industry says is crucial to the survival of small oil refining facilities. It has instead drawn criticism from both sides.
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Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-biofuels/critics-unload-on-trump-administration-biofuel-proposal-idUSKBN1X91GQ
