EPA Chief Touts Optimism, RFS Rules and Different Regulatory Philosophy Under Trump
Source: By Chris Clayton, DTN/Progressive Farmer • Posted: Monday, December 4, 2017
NEVADA, Iowa (DTN) — With a largely friendly crowd of central Iowa farmers and agribusiness types, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt on Friday highlighted his agency’s recent work on biofuels and Clean Water Act regulations while pointing to general overall American optimism under Donald Trump’s presidency.
“I really think my fundamental job is to bless the president as he makes decisions, to help inform him in the decisions in the areas in which I lead. Help him make good, informed decisions, and he is,” Pruitt said.
Pruitt pointed to higher consumer confidence, gross domestic product increases and the stock market as signs the country is more optimistic under Trump. “The optimism is palpable,” Pruitt said. “As I spend time in various states, folks are genuinely excited about what is going on.”
In a large farm shop with ethanol and biodiesel posters adorning the walls, Pruitt touted his two biofuels announcements in recent weeks. He noted EPA had struggled under the Obama administration to meet the Nov. 30 deadline for the Renewable Fuel Standard volume obligations, but EPA hit the deadline this year.
“I made a commitment during the confirmation process that Congress has told the EPA to get those volume obligations by Nov. 30, and we’re going to do it,” Pruitt said. “As we began the discussion internal to the agency, there wasn’t much optimism.”
Pruitt then said the RFS cap for corn-based ethanol is 15 billion gallons authorized under the statute. But Pruitt touted the ethanol export volumes happening now.
“We’re exporting about 1 billion gallons of ethanol every year, at least, and I’m hearing that Mexico is looking at adopting a statute similar to what we have domestically that will encourage further exports of ethanol,” Pruitt said. “I think that’s exciting.”
Pruitt also said the other announcement that didn’t draw as much attention was the decision to deny several petitions to shift the point of obligation in the RFS from refiners to retails.
“That was something that, as we looked at that, we wanted to provide clarity in the market, and that was very important to do,” Pruitt said to applause. “That, along with the volume obligations being done on time, will provide a lot of certainty.”