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Moore, James D [Jamie.D.Moore@andeavor.com] 12/1/2017 9:10:15 PM Lyons, Troy [/o=ExchangeLabs/ou=Exchange Administrative Group (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/cn=Recipients/cn=15e4881c95044ab49c6c35a0f5eef67e-Lyons, Troy] Fw: Trump to meet with Cruz over biofuel policy
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From: POLITICO Pro <politicoemail@politicopro.com> Sent: Friday, December 1, 2017 4:08 PM To: Moore, James D Reply To: POLITICO subscriptions Subject: Trump to meet with Cruz over biofuel policy
Trump to meet with Cruz over biofuel policy
By Ben Lefebvre and Andrew Restuccia
12/01/2017 04:04 PMEDT
President Donald Trump will meet with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and several Cabinet members next week to discuss U.S. biofuel policy and fuel efficiency standards, an administration official told POLITICO on Friday.
The Thursday meeting is an attempt by the White House to reach a compromise between Cruz, who has held up a Trump nominee to the Agriculture Department nominee over the administration's support for the Renewable Fuel Standard, and the farm-state lawmakers who pressured EPA to back down from potential changes to the regulations for biofuels.
The White House had until now ignored Cruz's requests for a meeting. Cruz and eight other senators sent a letter in October requesting changes to the program overseen by EPA, which sets the minimum volumes of ethanol and biodiesel to be used in the fuel market. Refiners must either purchase the biofuels to blend with their gasoline or diesel fuel, or buy credits to show their compliance -- credits the refiners say are too expensive and threaten to push some refiners out of business.
Cruz retains a hold on Trump's nomination of Bill Northey to a senior USDA post, a move seen as payback after EPA backed down from considering changes in how the biofuels program is implemented amid an outcry from farm-state lawmakers.
"The key here is they need to get Cruz something to get rid of that hold," said one industry representative familiar with the meeting.
The meeting will include Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, Energy Secretary Rick Perry, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn, the administration official said, though the person added that the attendee list could change. No industry representatives are expected to attend.
While biofuels will most likely be the first topic discussed, attendees will also delve into the higher CAFE standards the Obama administration put into place, as well as octane requirements. The Trump administration
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has delayed implementing an increase in civil fines for automakers who violate the fuel economy standards, a move that triggered a lawsuit from environmentalists.
Cruz and Trump have had a rocky relationship in the past, including after Trump linked Cruz's father to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy during the 2016 campaign, though they have been on better terms in in recent months.
Cruz's office did not reply to a request for comment, and the White House declined to comment.
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