Statewide Iowa — Governor Kim Reynolds is predicting President Trump will announce new ethanol production guidelines this week.
Reynolds flew to Washington, D.C. late last week for a meeting at the White House to discuss how to increase the federal ethanol production mandate. President Trump in August gave the green light to waivers so 31 oil refineries do not have to blend ethanol into gasoline. Trump has said he had to save those refineries “from certain closing” — but he’s promised a “giant package” will be unveiled to boost corn-based ethanol. Reynolds says she “feels really good” about last week’s White House meeting with Trump and farm-state senators.
The governor says the ethanol waivers granted to the oil industry erased any gains from President Trump’s June announcement that gasoline with a higher 15-percent blend of ethanol could be sold year-round. She says that message has been delivered.
Thus far, the increased numbers of RFS waivers granted to refineries have caused two northwest Iowa ethanol plants to stop production.
Photo Courtesy Radio Iowa
