Governors' Biofuels Coalition

 POET, the world’s largest producer of ethanol, isn’t feeling much heat to get behind a Congressional effort to overhaul the Renewable Fuel Standard. Rob Walther, the company’s chief lobbyist, told ME that “the specter of 2022 ” — when EPA gets license to set biofuel volumes — as something that could harm biofuels is just a specter. “It’s not a real threat.” Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.), who has been one of the leaders of the efforts in Congress, told POLITICO last month he think ethanol should be part of the efforts for fear of EPA’s unpredictability after the congressional mandates end. But Walther thinks Pruitt won’t upset key farm state constituencies by messing with the Obama administration’s conventional biofuel requirements, which would mean the maximum 15 billion gallons for five years. So by 2022, “The market will have internalized 15 billion gallons,” he said.

Previous | Next