After posting a fact sheet that declared he would eliminate a number of Environmental Protection Agency regulations, Donald Trump’s campaign replaced the proposals with a slimmed-down version backing off eliminating some of the rules.
On Thursday, Trump’s campaign said the Republican nominee would repeal the Clean Power Plan, the Waters of the United States rule, the latest ozone regulations and a part of the Renewable Fuel Standard for renewable fuels in gasoline. By Friday morning, the plan included only repealing the Clean Power Plan and the Waters of the United States rule.
The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment on why the fact sheet had been changed, if the candidate had changed his mind about the stricter ozone pollution standard or what his position is on ethanol in gasoline.
By Friday, the only section that remained of Trump’s positions on energy regulations was: “This includes eliminating some of our most intrusive regulations, like the Waters of The U.S. Rule. It also means scrapping the EPA’s so-called Clean Power Plan, which the government itself estimates will cost $7.2 billion a year. This Obama-Clinton directive will shut down most, if not all, coal-powered electricity plans in America.”
The version of the fact sheet posted on Thursday, which many observers pointed out used almost the exact same language on energy regulations used by the Heritage Foundation, contained sections criticizing the tightened ozone regulations announced by the EPA last year.
“The new ozone standard will push hundreds of communities out of compliance, and force states to devise plans to limit industrial activity and transportation projects, as well as replace existing emissions control equipment with more advanced [and costly] emissions equipment,” the fact sheet said on Thursday.
That section was eliminated in an updated version of the fact sheet.
There is also new ambiguity on Trump’s position on the Renewable Fuel Standard, which he expressed support for while campaigning in Iowa. The Hawkeye State is a major corn producer, and the main renewable fuel added to the nation’s gasoline supply is corn ethanol.
The Trump fact sheet released on Thursday stated the Renewable Identification Number program, which is opposed by Trump adviser and investor Carl Icahn, who owns refineries, was making it harder for refineries to be profitable.
“These requirements have turned out to be impossible to meet and are bankrupting many of the small and midsize refineries in this country,” the fact sheet said on Thursday. “These regulations will give Big Oil an oligopoly by destroying the small to mid-size refineries.”
That section also was removed.
Trump’s change of heart on the Renewable Identification Number program came as good news to the ethanol lobby.
Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy, said she was glad to see Trump back to supporting the Renewable Fuel Standard.
“The latest action by Mr. Trump shows that he is mindful regarding the importance of this issue and reaffirms his longstanding commitment to support a strong Renewable Fuel Standard,” Skor said.
