new york u.s. environmental protection agency back series propose change nation biofuels policy massive backlash corn-state lawmakers worry move would undercut ethanol demand accord letter agency lawmakers see reuters epa administrator scott pruitt say letter date oct. 19 agency keep renewable fuel volume mandate next year propose level reverse previous move open door cut move mark big win biofuels industry lawmakers corn-states like iowa nebraska illinois deal blow merchant refiners like pbf energy inc valero energy corp hop administration president donald trump would help provide regulatory relief white house issue statement hours pruitt letter deliver lawmakers express president support maintain renewable fuel plan president donald j. trump promise rural america would protect renewable fuel standard rfs never waver promise white house statement say trump second-place finish iowa caucus early 2016 give credibility candidacy defeat democrat hillary clinton state nov. election first time republican iowa since george w. bush 2004 provide trump key takeaway letter could end uncertainty future u.s. renewable fuel standard roil commodity energy market months program require refineries blend increase amount ethanol biofuels nation fuel supply buy credit appear verge massive overhaul popular form program credit hit two-month highs friday epa news traders say .. so-called d6 credit sink 68 cents last month epa consider cost-cutting measure price rebound recent weeks approach 90 cents friday traders say pruitt say epa would pursue another idea float epa leadership would allow export ethanol count toward volume quotas pruitt also say epa believe proposal shift biofuels blend obligation away refiners appropriate plan back representatives handful independent refine company warn cost program bankrupt plant cost thousands job ideas would ease burden refine industry argue biofuels compete petroleum blend responsibility cost hundreds millions dollars year midwestern lawmakers include republicans charles grassley joni ernst vocally oppose ideas call betrayal administration promise support corn belt concern move would undercut domestic demand ethanol key industry region support corn growers great day iowa great day rural america administrator pruitt commend follow president trump commitment biofuels grassley say statement letter pruitt say epa prepare work congress examine possibility waiver would allow sale e15 gasoline contain 15 percent ethanol year-round something currently permit summer due concern smog renewable fuel association president chief executive bob dinneen say response letter friday morning u.s. ethanol industry grateful administrator pruitt epiphany road rfs program disproportionately hurt mid-sized refiners mom-and-pop gas station backbone nation energy infrastructure need reform say greg blair spokesman fuel american job coalition group merchant refiners form seek change program administration follow course set administrator pruitt letter manufacture job pennsylvania ohio state job president trump promise protect risk blair say epa abandon change u.s. biofuel program lawmaker pressure