Reynolds says she’s pushing Trump to reverse ethanol moves

August 27, 2019 GMT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds says she is pushing the Trump administration to restore billions of gallons of ethanol demand lost when the Environmental Protection Agency exempted 31 oil refineries from blending ethanol with gasoline to meet the requirements of federal law.

Reynolds on Tuesday speculated that President Donald Trump may not have fully understood the impact of granting the waivers on the ethanol industry. Now, she says at least one ethanol plant in Iowa has shut down production.

Reynolds says she has calls scheduled with Energy Secretary Rick Perry and Vice President Mike Pence to talk about the ethanol industry after having already talked with Trump, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, Ivanka Trump and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue.

Reynolds says she remains comfortable telling the president about polices that hurt Iowa and its farmers even though she’s been named a co-chair of Trump’s re-election campaign in Iowa.