Governor Kim Reynolds came to Two Rivers Cooperative in Pella Wednesday to share her opposition to proposed changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Reynolds testified at a recent EPA hearing and spoke with President Donald Trump this week about the adverse effects that reducing many of the production volumes set in the RFS would have to Iowa’s economy.

Reynolds tells KNIA/KRLS News she’s committed to encouraging the EPA to reverse course on regulations that would significantly impact production of biofuels in the Midwest.

“Agriculture is the backbone of Iowa’s economy, and when it stumbles, it has a rippling effect on every other sector and a robust Renewable Fuel Standard is so important to our farmers and to continuing to grow the biofuels industry and especially the economy with depressed commodity prices, it’s so critical that we see growth in the volumes that are set, so it was a plea to Administrator Pruitt to encourage him to really move forward with a robust Renewable Fuel Standard.”

Reynolds said yesterday in Pella she expects President Trump to uphold his campaign promises and follow through with comments he made to her in a phone conversation this week to protect the renewable fuel industry.

“I take him at his word, I mean he reiterated that to me personally [Wednesday] morning, and he indicated that the last time he was in the state, I don’t know, it’s been probably three months ago, but…we’re hopeful. But again, we’re going to continue to push for the answers that we’re looking for,” she says.

Lt. Governor Adam Gregg and representatives of the Iowa Renewable Energy Association also spoke at Two Rivers Cooperative Wednesday.