2017 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit Recap
The 2017 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit featured an exciting speaker line-up of high-level biofuels industry experts. The one-day renewable fuels event on January 31, 2017 at the Prairie Meadows Conference Center not only attracted about 50 sponsors and vendors and over 700 attendees, but also a wealth of inspiring discussions on the challenges and opportunities facing today’s renewable fuels industry.
To learn more about the event, check out the full Summit recap below.
Welcome to the 2017 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit
 |
 |
Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) President Eamonn Byrne kicked-off the 2017 Summit by welcoming the crowd, discussing the program and recognizing the event’s sponsors. Byrne set the tone for the day by emphasizing the impact of renewable fuels on rural America and agriculture and the success of the Renewable Fuel Standard.
The State of Iowa’s Renewable Fuels Industry
 |
 |
Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw discussed the state of Iowa’s ethanol and biodiesel industries, noting elements of uncertainty but emphasizing the industry’s readiness to make unrelenting progress in the months and years to come.
To view Shaw’s presentation, please click here.
To view a copy of Shaw’s selected prepare remarks, please click here.
Renewable Fuels Industry Keynote:
Renewable Fuels Association CEO Bob Dinneen
 |
 |
Summit keynote Bob Dinneen’s address, “Make Ethanol Great Again,” focused on President Donald Trump’s support for the Renewable Fuel Standard and why there is reason to expect industry growth under the new Administration.
To view Bob Dinneen’s presentation, click here.
High-Octane Roundtable: Fueling a New Era
| Robert McCormick (far right) from the National Renewable Energy Lab, Dr. Andy Randolph (center right) from ECR Engines, Richard Childress Racing, and Gary Herwick (center left) from Transportation Fuels Consulting sat down with Tim Portz (far left) of BBI International to discuss the potential for higher ethanol blends — such as E30 — to help auto manufacturers meet rising fuel efficiency standards. |  |
To view slides used during this panel, click here.
Biodiesel: America’s Advanced Biofuel with Former U.S. Representative Kenny Hulshof
 |
 |
Former U.S. Representative Kenny Hulshof discussed the future of biodiesel, the nation’s leading source of advanced biofuel. He stressed the need for a reinstated biodiesel tax credit to provide certainty to the industry — certainty that contributed to record-setting production in 2016.
Policy Roundtable: New Administration, New Congress, New Attitude
| Renewable Fuels Association CEO Bob Dinneen (far right), Former U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof (center), Valero Vice President of Alternative Fuels Martin Parrish (center right), and energy policy expert Jim Massie (center left) joined IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw (far left) to discuss the future of renewable fuels policy under the new Administration and Congress. |  |
7th Annual “Fuel the Future” Iowa High School Video Contest
IRFA Policy Director Grant Menke presented awards for the 7th Annual “Fuel the Future” Renewable Fuels Video Contest for Iowa High School students. Taking home the $1,000 grand prize were Waukee students Jacob Roush and Dylan Smith for their video, “Choose Ethanol: Fuel the Future.” The contest was sponsored by Faegre Baker Daniels.
First Place Winner
 |
Second Place Winner
 |
Third Place Winner
 |
Exports Roundtable: Today & Tomorrow
| Mike Dwyer (center) with the U.S. Grains Council and Gary Haer (right) from Renewable Energy Group sat down with Jim Galvin (left) from Lakeview Energy to discuss rapidly growing global markets for biofuels and co-products, the regulatory constraints, and the challenges presented by competing imports. |  |
To view the slides used during this panel, click here.
Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds
 |
 |
Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds discussed Iowa’s leadership in renewable fuels, and how they plan to continue to lead the way in supporting Iowa biofuels on a state, national, and even international level.
Governor Branstad was also presented with the Lifetime Champion of Renewable Fuels Award for his longtime support of biofuels.
 |
 |
Corn Fiber Roundtable: Adding Value
| Jeff Scharping (far right) from ICM Inc., Tim Tierney (center right) from Syngenta, and Cameron Cast (center left) from Edeniq Inc. joined Brad Davis (far left) of Corn LP to discuss the advent of new corn fiber conversion technology that can boost the number of gallons Iowa ethanol plants produce from the same amount of corn. The panel focused on the introduction of this technology in ethanol dry mills, how this trend is evolving, and what fiber recovery means for an ethanol plant’s bottom line. |  |