The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) recently submitted comments in response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) request for information on the Clean School Bus (CSB) Program. The EPA sought feedback on a broad range of fuel options that school buses could use to reduce emissions, including biofuels, natural gas, and hydrogen, in their revamping of the program. In its …
No E15 Bill to Consider
It should come as no shock to anyone that the deadline for the “E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council” to come up with legislation for Congress came and went February 15 without any notice and the House of Representatives is off this week, making it unlikely anything will be done before the end of the month. But the ethanol industry remains …
Iowa Biodiesel Production Plummets
Production of biodiesel in Iowa dropped by more than 30 percent last year with only eight facilities reporting production in 2025, according to the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA). Iowa’s biodiesel plants produced 244 million gallons in 2025, down 31% from 353 million gallons in 2024 as the industry faced great uncertainty in 2025 due to both low Renewable Fuel …
Iowa State Bill Addresses Pipeline Concerns
A bill was introduced this week in the Iowa state legislature that supporters of carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (CCUS) projects in the state hope will address some of the concerns of landowners. Iowa Senate Majority Leader Mike Klimesh introduced the bill which “reforms the permit process to be less confrontational, expands the ability to voluntarily negotiate with landowners on …
Stakeholders Concerned E15 is Now or Never
Iowa ethanol stakeholders are sounding the alarm that if Congress fails to include E15 in the spending bill this month, it could be the last chance the industry has to make it happen for some time. “We have an opportunity in the next couple of weeks and we won’t have another opportunity probably for years,” said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association …
Iowa Ethanol Stagnation Blamed on Lack of CSS
Iowa ethanol production has remained stagnant for the past three years and the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association puts the blame on the blocking of carbon capture and sequestration technology usage in the state. Iowa’s ethanol plants produced 4.6 billion gallons of ethanol in 2025, matching its output level from the past two years. Iowa accounts for 28% of total U.S. …
Nebraska CO2 Pipeline Gives Edge Over Iowa Ethanol
Iowa ethanol producers are losing their winning edge to Nebraska with the start of CO2 shipments on the Tallgrass Trailblazer pipeline last week, according to the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IowaRFA). Mid America Agri Products/Wheatland (MAAPW) last week became the first plant to start carbon dioxide capture at its Madrid, Nebraska facility with volumes to be transported on the Tallgrass …
IRFA Champions Clean Fuels During RAGBRAI 2025
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association has been promoting clean fuels this week during the 2025 Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) by encouraging all support vehicles to fuel up with E15 or B20. IRFA has also provided “Riding to a Greener Future” jerseys to members of the renewable fuels community riding during the weeklong event. “RAGBRAI is a …
Big Beautiful Bill Boosts Biodiesel
The big, beautiful bill is a big, beautiful relief for Iowa’s biodiesel industry which has been suffering this year. “Countries around the world and many of our states are demanding ultra-low carbon fuels,” said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw. “The Big Beautiful Bill helps pave the way for the investments to produce those fuels – and …
Iowa Governor Vetoes Pipeline Bill
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds made corn growers and ethanol producers in her state happy today with her veto of a bill passed by the state legislature that would have limited the future for carbon sequestration pipelines. In her explanation for vetoing the bill, Gov. Reynolds said the bill would set a troubling precedent. “For example, the bill would block a …