President Donald Trump's decision to defend the U.S. government's power to broadly exempt oil refineries from biofuel-blending requirements is triggering a backlash in Iowa and other states that are top producers of ethanol and the corn used to make it.
Nine biofuel and agriculture advocacy groups warned of possible political repercussions, eight months before Election Day.
If the administration follows through with plans to appeal a court ruling that invalidated three refinery waivers, it "would be viewed as a stunning betrayal of America's rural workers and farmers," the Renewable Fuels Association, National Farmers Union, National Biodiesel Board and other organizations said in a joint statement.