Waiver Issue "Fix" Discussion Takes Place

The White House will meet with biofuel companies today, after promising a “giant fix” to the ongoing refinery waiver issue.

Reuters reports the meeting will include officials from companies including Louis Dreyfus and Renewable Energy Group. White House Chief of Staff, Mick Mulvaney, is expected to lead the discussion. The proposed plan would include increasing conventional biofuels, like corn-based ethanol, by 500 million gallons; advanced biofuels, like biodiesel, by 500 million gallons in 2020; plus boost the 2021 biodiesel mandate by 250 million gallons.

Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue shares his thoughts on the plan.

It’s still in process. We’re really talking about different issues of how we can recover some of the small refinery waiver that were given from a gallonage perspective. The President’s had some good suggestions and we’re still discussing what the best balance between the two industries are.

National Farmers Union Biofuels Adviser Anne Steckel told RFD-TV on Tuesday that reallocating waived gallons was being considered in the talks. Secretary Perdue would not confirm that information, saying

Reallocation is probably just a buzzword. When you talk about how you recover some of the waiver issues, technically is it reallocation or not. I’m not sure I know exactly what you mean by reallocation.

Biofuel groups and lawmakers, including Senate Finance Chairman Chuck Grassley, have long promoted the idea of reallocation.

RFD-TV News Staff

Waiver Issue “Fix” Discussion Takes Place