Corn growers in the United States said a recent government announcement is “welcomed,” but it is pressing for more gains to maintain requirements that gasoline contain minimum levels of ethanol.
The move that was “welcomed” is news from the Enviromental Protection Agency that 54 of 68 retroactive exemptions from the minimum requirements have been cancelled.
That still leaves 14 exemptions in effect, noted the National Corn Growers Association.
All of those exemptions were for fuel marketed from 20112 to 2018.
There are 31 exemption applications still under consideration for 2019 and 2020.
The Tenth Circuit of the United States court system ruled earlier this year that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) exceeded its jurisdiction in granting exemptions.
The National Corn Growers Association said “The solution is simple; the EPA needs to uphold the law, adhere to the Tenth Circuit decision, and follow through on the (U.S.) President’s (Donald Trump’s) commitment to farmers.
“Corn growers stand ready to work with the administration to uphold the RFS (Renewable Fuels Standard) and continue to remove barriers to higher ethanol blends.”
It said corn prices remain depressed and some ethanol plants sitting idle.
