Trump now backs higher-ethanol gas at pumps in move to court farm votes before November
President Donald Trump on Saturday offered a boost to the ethanol industry as he courts farmers and biofuel producers in Midwestern swing states before the November election.
Trump has approved using existing filling station pumps to distribute higher-ethanol gasoline.
Subject only to State approval, our important Ethanol Industry will be allowed to use the 10% Pumps for the 15% BLEND, Trump tweeted.
The administrations announcement followed a conversation Trump had with Sen. Joni Ernst, an Iowa Republican whos been pushing for the change as she seeks re-election. Ernst, in her own tweet, welcomed the news.
But some rural voters groups remained wary of what they argue historically has been Trumps backing of the oil industry CL00, -0.23% at the expense of promoting alternative fuels and said the decision from the president had been a long time coming.
Read more: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/trump-now-backs-higher-ethanol-gas-at-pumps-in-move-to-court-farmers-before-november-2020-09-12