The meeting between President Donald Trump and oil-state senators Thursday appears to be the final meeting on the topic of U.S. biofuel policy, with those lawmakers focusing on their concerns over a package of changes the administration has developed.
No details of Thursday's White House meeting have surfaced yet, although Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said in a tweet that Trump had been receptive. “Just spoke with @realDonaldTrump on the renewable fuel standard — the president is very engaged on the issue, and feels as if we can work towards a solution which protects jobs,” Cassidy wrote.
Biofuel backers remain cautiously optimistic the package that reportedly has been agreed to will be the final word. However, they are also wary of the potential for the apparent package to change.
Said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, last week: “I have been hoodwinked so many times, not just by EPA on this issue but by other bureaucracies as well, so I am going to see if what they talked about is the end product.”
It is not clear whether the plan will be announced prior to November 30, the date that EPA has to finalize Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volume requirements for 2020 biofuels and 2021 biodiesel.
The fact that neither biofuel backers nor oil industry interests are talking about the plan could be a sign it has met with approval by both camps. However, as signaled by Grassley, at least biofuel backers are wary until the final announcement is made.
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