An open letter to President Trump from nearly 100 ethanol producers is greeting readers this morning in editions of the New York Times, New York Post, and Wall Street Journal.
The letter, signed by members of Growth Energy, urges the president to “unleash rural growth by cutting the red tape holding back homegrown energy” and condemns Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt’s actions that are “destroying demand for biofuels and crops during the worst farm crisis since the 1980s.” The full-page ads were placed by Growth Energy ahead of an expected meeting with farm-state champions and petroleum backers at the White House this week. The letter was signed by 94 of Growth Energy’s member plants from 18 states.
“Major petroleum refiners have received handout after handout at the expense of rural workers and farm families,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “We need the president to act quickly on his pledge to lift outdated regulations on E15 and send a clear and final signal that that this White House will no longer tolerate oil-backed schemes to derail the rural recovery.”
The open letter coincides with a digital and radio ad campaign launched by Growth Energy last week, which urges Midwest voters to contact the White House in support of E15.