Iowa Renewable Fuels: Unrelenting in the Face of Uncertainty Read More...

Contact: Cassidy Riley
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State of biofuels industry highlighted at annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit

ALTOONA, IOWA - In the wake of a record-producing 2016, Iowa biofuels face a number of challenges and opportunities in the new year. Today, Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw highlighted the state of the industry at the 2017 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit.

'The state of Iowa's renewable fuels industry is uncertain but unrelenting,' Shaw said. 'We are ready to expand and bring cheaper, cleaner, home-grown fuels to US and world consumers.'

Concerning federal policy, Shaw foresees unrelenting progress going forward because 'one year ago at this very conference, then candidate Donald Trump pledged to protect and defend the RFS.' Yet the industry sees uncertainty in the influence Trump's Cabinet appointees may have over policy decisions since several have track records opposing the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

Shaw said the industry is bullish regarding the spread of higher ethanol blends at the pump, with Iowa now boasting 99 registered E15 pumps and well over 200 E85 pumps. Yet uncertainty remains because artificial regulatory roadblocks continue to complicate summertime E15 sales.

Advanced biofuels are also gaining steam in Iowa, with biodiesel demand reaching record levels in 2016 and Iowa leading the country in cellulosic ethanol production. Still, concerns abound that Congress allowed biodiesel and cellulosic tax credits to expire.

Shaw concluded: 'Overall, renewable fuels will continue their unrelenting push for market access and consumer choice. All the Big Oil profits in the world cannot change the fact that ethanol is cheaper, cleaner, and higher octane. We must be unrelenting because America's farmers are counting on us to create demand for their commodities and American consumers are counting on us to provide cheaper, cleaner fuels.'

To view Shaw's selected remarks, click here.

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association represents the state's liquid renewable fuels industry and works to foster its growth. Iowa is the nation's leader in renewable fuels production with 43 ethanol refineries capable of producing 4 billion gallons annually - including nearly 55 million gallons of annual cellulosic ethanol production capacity - and 12 biodiesel facilities with the capacity to produce over 350 million gallons annually. For more information, visit the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association website at:www.IowaRFA.org.

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