The Governors Biofuel Coalition urges the EPA to reject gap year petitions from oil companies. The ethanol industry says oil refiners use gap year filing to work around renewable fuel mandates. The group argues approving petitions could cut jobs and lower commodity prices in rural America.
President Trump puts pressure on Brazil to buy more American made ethanol. In 2019, Brazil approved duty free imports on 750 million liters for one year. American corn-based fuel would be cheaper than Brazil’s sugar ethanol at the pump. A deal could face backlash from Brazilian sugar producers, which say that more imports could cut profits at smaller mills.