Senator Grassley addresses new small refinery waiver concerns

by | Jul 2, 2019 | 5 Ag Stories, News

Small refinery waivers have been a thorn in the side of the ethanol production for the past few years. Former Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt granted many waivers to refineries which ethanol supporters do not believe qualify. Now as the President looks to get the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) involved, some Senators have worked to block USDA nominees.

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley addressed the situation in Tuesday?s call with Ag reporters. He talked about the moves made by Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) to block USDA nominees until President Trump ditches his plan to have Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue be involved in refinery waivers.

Senator Grassley praised the Trump administration for keeping its promises to uphold the rules of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS), and that he expects the EPA and USDA to work together to help the President to continue to keep it.

Commenting on a letter coming from Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and other oil state Senators, Grassley says he knows where they stand, and they know where he stands. It is up to the administration to reverse the trend of abusing the law for big oil?s gain.