ENERGY [ALTERNATIVE]/EPA/GOP/SCOTT PRUITT/TRUMP PEOPLE: “Republican Senator Chuck Grassley on Tuesday [5-15-18] said Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt must scale back the use of biofuels waivers for small refineries, or else he will join other lawmakers calling for Pruitt’s resignation. The demand ramps up pressure on the embattled EPA administrator, who is already under pressure from mostly Democratic lawmakers to step down over controversies that include high spending on travel and security. Corn state senators like Iowa’s Grassley have been infuriated by the EPA’s decision to provide an unusually large number of waivers from the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to refineries in recent months, freeing them from their obligation to blend biofuels like ethanol into the nation’s fuel..The EPA has authority to exempt small refineries from the Renewable Fuel Standard if they can prove complying would cause them economic hardship – but biofuels advocates say overusing the waivers kills demand for ethanol.”
-Jarrett Renshaw, Chris Prentice, “Republican senator says EPA chief must slow refinery waivers or resign,” Reuters, May 15, 2018 7:59 am