TRUMP'S LETTER OF SUPPORT

On Tuesday, Trump sent a letter of support to attendees of the National Ethanol Conference, reiterating his support for the renewable fuels industry."Rest assured that your president and this administration value the importance of renewable fuels to America's economy and to our energy independence," Trump said in the letter."As I emphasized throughout my campaign, renewable fuels are essential to America's energy strategy. As important as ethanol and the Renewable Fuel Standard are to rural economies, I also know that your industry has suffered from overzealous, job-killing regulation."I am committed to reducing the regulatory burden on all businesses, and my team is looking forward to working with the Renewable Fuels Association and many others, to identify and reform those regulations that impede growth, increase consumer costs, and eliminate good-paying jobs without providing sufficient environmental or public health benefit," Trump said.During the panel discussion, one oil industry representative said the new administration is opening doors for his industry and renewable fuel interests to find common ground."I think we all have an opportunity to take a deep breath," said Marty Durbin, executive director for market development at the American Petroleum Institute, or API."We were all planning for a different outcome (to the presidential election). But the election result does provide some interesting opportunities for new coalitions."Chet Thompson, president of the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers and former general counsel at EPA under the George W. Bush administration, said his group is encouraged by the Trump administration's pursuit of regulatory and tax reform.In addition, Thompson said Trump's America-first approach is expected to open the door to expand energy production across the board."We're thrilled by what we're seeing in the first month," Thompson said. "If you look at the executive orders on regulatory reform and two-for-one policy, Congress getting in the game, there's lots of opportunities for us in manufacturing."Trump signed an executive order calling for federal agencies to eliminate two regulations for every new regulation proposed. That order faces a court challenge from a number of environmental groups.Thompson said he believes Pruitt will be a "champion" for the energy industry as a whole."For eight years, EPA has fought all of liquid fuels," Thompson said. "We think the opportunity is now to make lasting changes. In the last eight years, the EPA has issued nine rules that at least each come with $1 billion in compliance costs."