The Trump administration is plowing ahead with plans to promote the use of ethanol — a move likely to rally Midwest Republicans, but rile independent oil refiners and a group of bipartisan lawmakers, The Washington Post reported.
In a conference call Monday, an unnamed administration official said the Environmental Protection Agency’s directive to draft a rule allowing year-round sales of E15 — fuel that’s 5 percent ethanol by volume, is aimed “at increasing the supply of biofuels and providing consumer choice,” the Post reported.
Currently, sales of E15 are prohibited during the summer because of concerns about air pollution.
President Donald Trump is expected to announce the move Tuesday at a rally for GOP candidates in Council Bluffs, Iowa — the nation’s largest ethanol producer, and a state expected to get hit hard by trade wars with China and other countries, the Post reported.
Among those pushing for the change has been the CEO of ethanol processor POET, one of at least three firms that’ve lobbied Vice President Mike Pence on the issue, the Post reported.
The American Petroleum Institute and others argue higher ethanol levels can cause harm to vehicle engines. Last week, a bipartisan group of 20 senators wrote to Trump arguing against the rule.
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