In his 2017 Condition of the State address as governor of Iowa, Terry Branstad touted the state’s leadership in biofuels and promised more for the future as he enters the confirmation process to become the next Ambassador to China under President-elect Donald Trump and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds prepares to finish his term.

“We just set an all-time record for ethanol production, set a new record for biodiesel production by an additional 55 million gallons and lead the nation in percentage of electricity generated by wind,” said Branstad, noting that the recently released Iowa Energy Plan “will help build on our past energy successes and reaffirms our commitment to maintaining Iowa’s energy leadership in the future.”

Branstad spoke about the need for a responsible budget in the address, entitled “Smaller and Smarter Government,” but Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw was pleased to see him prioritize funding for the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP). “This cost-share program has leveraged millions of dollars of private investment for equipment to provide consumers the option of higher ethanol and biodiesel blends,” said Shaw. “The demand for this program remains strong and the $3 million in proposed funding is dearly needed.”

Branstad served as governor of Iowa from 1983 to 1999, then ran and again and was elected in 2011. He was elected to an unprecedented sixth four-year term as Iowa governor in 2014 and is the longest-serving governor in history.