On July 5 President Trump announced the resignation of Scott Pruitt as the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Deputy Administrator Andrew Wheeler began his role as acting administrator of the EPA on Monday, July 9.
Leaders across the biofuels and agricultural industries, along with our Senate biofuels champions including Sen. Chuck Grassley, applauded Pruitt’s resignation and expressed optimism in working with Wheeler. Wheeler has firsthand knowledge of the biofuels industry; he attended the Growth Energy Executive Leadership Conference in 2017. Pruitt’s resignation is widely seen as an opportunity to reset from
Pruitt’s disastrous policies and ethical scandals and to move into a more productive relationship with the EPA.
“I hope Acting Administrator Wheeler views this as an opportunity to restore this Administration’s standing with farmers and the biofuels industry. I’m looking forward to working with Acting Administrator Wheeler to do just that,” Grassley said.
However, Pruitt’s departure alone doesn’t eliminate the industry’s challenges with gaining additional market access. "We will remain focused on securing year-round E15 sales, upholding a strong RFS and reversing the damages caused by EPA small refinery waivers," said Kyle Gilley, Senior Vice President of External Affairs & Communications, POET.
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