OIL LOBBY FIGHTING TRUMP ON ETHANOL: The oil industry is trying to stop the Trump administration from implementing a plan to allow more ethanol to be blended into gasoline during summer months. President Trump has stated that he's committed to allowing E15 -- gasoline with 15 percent ethanol -- to be sold in the summer, which is currently prohibited due to air pollution concerns. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to propose regulatory action to allow E15 soon, fulfilling a longstanding wish of the ethanol and corn industries, and lawmakers representing corn-heavy states. But the American Petroleum Institute (API) -- whose member oil companies might sell less gasoline if the policy goes through -- has launched a campaign to push back. It argues that higher ethanol blends are unsafe for car engines, the change can't be accomplished without congressional action and such a policy would kill bipartisan momentum to reform the Renewable Fuel Standard. "The E15 waiver is a flawed, anti-consumer policy," Frank Macchiarola, downstream group director for the API, told reporters Friday. "With this so-called deal, the EPA would be giving the store to the ethanol lobby and sticking the American consumer with the tab," he said. "We know that there is time. They can step back from this, they can reconsider it. And that's what we're urging them to do." Macchiarola said the group might support allowing E15 year-round, but only if Congress does it and also agrees to completely end the federal ethanol mandate in 2022. Read more. Off to court?: Since every issue in energy policy ends up in court nowadays, it's likely that whatever the EPA does on E15 will result in litigation. Macchiarola kept his cards close to the chest Friday, but made it clear that API won't be afraid to go to court. "We are going to analyze the decision, but we intend to leave all of our legal options on the table," he said. "We will respond very strongly to whatever the administration does if we don't find a fair solution to this issue." What's next: The EPA has been tight-lipped about when it will move forward on its E15 plans, or even what it might do. But we're hearing that if something happens, it will be proposed in the coming weeks. |
沒有留言:
張貼留言