Gas prices are beginning to rise in anticipation of hurricane Isaac, directly headed to New Orleans nearly seven years after hurricane Katrina. While evacuation plans were underway in the city, President Obama was in Ames, Iowa and Monte Shaw, the executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association brought a letter for the president asking him to take emergency action …
10 Ways Ethanol is Helping Livestock Producers
Despite the lack of rain that is occurring across the U.S. this summer, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IFRA) has released a list of 10 ways ethanol producers are helping livestock farmers during the drought. IRFA says that although the drought is having a profound impact on crop production, because of ethanol production, there is larger corn crop and more …
Iowa 2012 Champions of Renewable Fuels
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) PAC is honoring 20 Iowa state legislators with “Champion of Renewable Fuels” awards. The IRFA PAC Board established the awards for state legislators with a clear voting record supporting renewable fuels and who also provided leadership for renewable fuels in the Iowa Legislature. This is the second election cycle that the IRFA PAC has …
Grassley Supports Biodiesel Tax Credit Extension
Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) is making a run at getting the biodiesel tax credit extended. He is attempting to mark up a tax extenders package that would include a retroactive extension of the credit for an Iowa leading industry. Biodiesel production increased during the second quarter of 2012 as compared to the first quarter. Iowa is the leading biodiesel …
DF Cast: House’s Turn at Biofuels in Farm Bill
During the last Domestic Fuel Cast, we talked about the U.S. Senate’s work on the renewable energy provisions of the Farm Bill. In this edition, we follow the debate over to the House, where not much funding in the energy title of the bill moved out of the Agriculture Committee. Listen to what some key lawmakers, as well as leaders …
Radio Ads Featuring President Obama Air in Iowa
Iowans driving to work, or typing away on computers, and listening to the radio, may hear some new advertisements featuring President Obama. Although the biodiesel and ethanol industries have been under serious attack the last few weeks, the Obama Administration has continued to show its support for the growth of the American-based industry. U.S. biofuels production is currently led by …
IRFA Irked Over Blender Pumps Exclusion in Farm Bill
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw is calling out the U.S. House after the latest version of the Farm Bill attempts to modify the existing Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) to specifically exclude blender pumps from eligibility: “It was very disappointing to see the blender pump exclusion maintained in the House Ag Committee Farm Bill. IRFA’s …
Iowa Fuel Retailers Hit Roadblock to E15 Sales
The independent Linn Co-op Oil Company in Marion, Iowa is all set to be the first in the nation to sell 15% ethanol blended gasoline to customers, except for one little detail. They can’t get the fuel to sell it. The problem is that petroleum refiners servicing the Cedar Rapids area refuse to make the proper gasoline for blending with …
Survey Finds Need for More Renewable Fueling Options
In a recent online survey of shareholders, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) sought input on the renewable fuels industry’s impact on individuals and communities. Nearly 500 renewable fuels supporters took part in the survey and provided some intriguing responses. “There is a growing appreciation for fueling freedom – not just E85, but E15 and E30 as well,” said IRFA …
Iowa Leads the Way in Renewable Fuel Growth
According to a new study by Cardo ENTRIX, the “renewable fuels industry has grown spectacularly over the past decade and Iowa has been a major participant and beneficiary.” This is no surprise as Iowa leads the way in biodiesel and ethanol production. To learn about some of the key highlights of the study, I spoke with Brad Albin, VP of …