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Energy Policy Experts to Talk RFS, Farm Bill and More at the 9th Annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit

JOHNSTON, IA – The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) today announced a panel of U.S. energy policy experts that will address the 9th Annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit on January 27. Energy policy professionals James Massie of The Alpine Group, Aaron Whitesel of DuPont, and Catharine Ransom of the Glover Park Group will discuss the future of the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), the Farm Bill, tax policy as it relates to energy, and much more.

“The 2015 Summit will have a great group of well-qualified energy experts take center stage to shine a spotlight on the RFS and other policies impacting renewable fuels,” stated IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “Each one of these experts brings years of federal policy experience to the table to evaluate how the latest political changes could impact the future of US energy policy.”

James Massie has more than 30 years of U.S. government-related experience, mainly focusing on environment, energy and tax policy. Massie is a founding partner of The Alpine Group.  Known as the “insiders’ insider,” Massie has advised a diverse set of clients from petroleum to renewable fuels.

Aaron Whitesel currently serves as Government Affairs Senior Manager for DuPont, where he focuses on agriculture and biofuels.  Prior to DuPont, Whitesel worked for U.S. Senator Richard Lugar and helped craft groundbreaking energy legislation.

Catharine Ransom is currently the Managing Director of Government Affairs at the Glover Park Group, where she also co-leads their energy and sustainability practice.  Previously, she worked for over a decade in the U.S. Senate, working for Senator Max Baucus, the Committee on Environmental and Public Works and Senator Bob Graham.

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit and Trade Show is free and open to the public. The online registration deadline is January 16, 2015. To register to attend, review sponsorship opportunities, and learn more about the 2015 Summit, please visit: https://iowarfa.org/2015Summit.php.

Iowa is the nation’s leader in renewable fuels production. Iowa has 43 ethanol refineries capable of producing more than 3.8 billion gallons annually, including 22 million gallons of annual cellulosic ethanol production capacity and one cellulosic ethanol facility currently under construction. In addition, Iowa has 12 biodiesel facilities with the capacity to produce nearly 315 million gallons annually.

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association was formed in 2002 to represent the state’s liquid renewable fuels industry. The trade group fosters the development and growth of the renewable fuels industry in Iowa through education, promotion, legislation and infrastructure development.

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For more information, visit the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association website at: www.IowaRFA.org