Contact: Cassidy Riley
515-252-6249

Higher blends at the pump key to unlocking Iowa’s potential

JOHNSTON, IA – Iowa’s 43 ethanol plants had another record breaking year, producing 4.1 billion gallons in 2016. The slight uptick in production from 4 billion gallons in 2015 is largely due to an increase in gasoline demand, allowing more E10 blending and increased ethanol export opportunities.

“Setting another annual ethanol production record is a testament to the efficiency and hard work of Iowa’s ethanol plants,” said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw. “However, Iowa has the resources, both in corn and plant capabilities, to do much more.  In order to unlock this wealth of untapped potential, we need to move beyond E10 and ensure that all consumers have access to higher blends of ethanol at the pump, like E15. The federal government needs to break down regulatory barriers to higher blends that serve no purpose other than to protect petroleum.”

IRFA’s top state policy priority for 2017 is securing funding for the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program to ensure more retailers have the equipment necessary to offer higher blends of ethanol now and in the future.

“The recently released Iowa Energy Plan highlighted the blender pump program as efficient, effective, and necessary to securing Iowa’s energy future,” added Shaw.  “Home-grown ethanol is better for our environment, economy, and national security. But we can’t maximize all those benefits if the petroleum industry is allowed to monopolize access to the consumer.”

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association represents the state’s liquid renewable fuels industry and works to foster its growth. Iowa is the nation’s leader in renewable fuels production with 43 ethanol refineries capable of producing 4 billion gallons annually – including nearly 55 million gallons of annual cellulosic ethanol production capacity – and 12 biodiesel facilities with the capacity to produce over 350 million gallons annually. For more information, visit the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association website at: www.IowaRFA.org

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