Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy (SIRE) is one step closer to providing monarch butterflies with a new place to fill up on their cross-country journey. The ethanol plant seeded their Monarch Fueling Station this week with the help of local farmer Rick Frost. Habitat Establishment Coordinator Kevin Reynolds helped SIRE established the Monarch Fueling Station last year. “The first year there …
Study Shows Biofuels are 3 Percent of Iowa GDP
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) has released a new study that shows biofuels are responsible for over $5 billion of Iowa’s GDP, or roughly three percent. The study, authored by John Urbanchuk of ABF Economics and commissioned by IRFA, also found that biofuels account for over 48,000 Iowa jobs and more than $2.5 billion in Iowa household income. “The …
EPA Nomination Advances to Full Senate
The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) voted 11-10 along party lines Tuesday to advance the nomination of Andrew Wheeler to be administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. “Mr. Wheeler has served as deputy administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency since April of 2018, when the Senate confirmed his nomination with bipartisan support,” said Committee Chair Senator John …
Iowa Biofuels Industry “Hurting but Hopeful”
Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw told the 2019 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit last week that 2018 was his toughest year yet working for the biofuels industry. “With forces inside of EPA and the West Wing trying to convince President Trump to gut the RFS, there were months when I went to sleep wondering if a tweet the …
Iowa Budget Includes $3M for Biofuels Infrastructure
Governor Kim Reynolds released her 2019 Iowa budget proposal this week, including $3 million for the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP), which provides cost-share grants to help Iowa retailers incorporate blender pumps, storage tanks, and other necessary equipment to offer higher blends of biofuels. “IRFA members want to thank Gov. Reynolds for prioritizing funding for blender pumps through Iowa’s …
Governor Reynolds to Keynote Iowa RFA
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds will once again address the annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit to discuss the many ways biofuels boost the state’s economy, protect the environment, and drive Iowa into the future. “Iowans play a tremendous role in America’s renewable fuel industry,” Governor Reynolds said. “Since the very beginning, we saw its unlimited potential and now our state leads …
Iowa Breaks Ethanol Production Record
Iowa ethanol plants had another record-breaking year in 2018, producing 4.35 billion gallons, up from 4.2 billion gallons in 2017. Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw said the increased production is due largely to record exports and despite this success, producers suffered from lower margins. “This record production is a testament to the resilience of Iowa’s ethanol producers,” …
IRFA Welcomes New Policy Director
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) is pleased to welcome Nathan Hohnstein as its new Policy Director to oversee state policy, support IRFA’s political and PAC programs, and work on state and federal regulatory affairs. Hohnstein most recently worked as a policy adviser for Governor Kim Reynolds. Prior to that he worked for former Governor Terry Branstad on boards & …
Record Breaking Year for Iowa Biodiesel
After a slight decrease in 2017, Iowa’s 12 biodiesel plants rebounded in 2018, producing a record 365 million gallons of biodiesel, according to the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA). IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw said the increased production was largely due to the plummeting level of biodiesel imports following a verdict against Argentina and Indonesia for illegally subsidizing imports to …
NBB CEO to Keynote 2019 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit
National Biodiesel Board CEO Donnell Rehagen will highlight the American success story of biodiesel and discuss what is on the horizon for the nation’s leading advanced biofuel on January 29th at the Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit. “Year after year the biodiesel industry continues to outpace and outproduce expectations,” Rehagen said. “Supporting more than 64,000 jobs and reducing greenhouse gasses by …