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Release Date: 10/04/2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Angel Jenio, ajenio@micorn.org

Michigan Corn Growers Association Thanks Trump Administration for Listening and Upholding the RFS

LANSING – The Michigan Corn Growers Association (MCGA) welcomed an announcement from President Trump today directing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to follow the letter of the law and keep the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) whole.    

The RFS and corn farmers have repeatedly come under attack from big oil and the EPA, including the most recent approval of 31 additional RFS exemptions for oil companies, reducing corn demand for ethanol and increasing total waived biofuels demand to 4.04 billion gallons under the Trump Administration.  Today’s announcement that EPA will reopen the rulemaking for the 2020 RFS volumes and propose to account for waivers in the volume requirements allows EPA to follow the law and restore integrity to the RFS.

“Michigan corn farmers are grateful that the President heard our concerns and has committed to making the RFS whole again,” said Matt Frostic, President of the Michigan Corn Growers Association. “Our farmers have been loud and clear in telling the President and the EPA that these waivers were having significant negative consequences for family farmers and our rural businesses. We welcome these actions by the administration to find a solution to the damage caused by small refinery waivers.”

MCGA has advocated that the EPA use its available tools to account for expected waivers in the annual Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) rulemaking so that waivers do not reduce the RFS volumes. The EPA, to date, had ignored these calls and the clear requirement of the law, refusing to take steps to keep the RFS whole or even consider comments pertaining to waived gallons in RVO rulemakings.

In addition to the commitment to redistribute waived gallons, the Administration is also proposing to take further steps supported by farmers, including removing additional barriers and supporting infrastructure to help grow demand for higher blends of ethanol.