Press Contact: Hannah Love

515-322-0435

 

WEST DES MOINES, IA – Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) has been actively engaging with key members of the Trump Administration during recent events across the state. 

“We are fortunate that the great Iowa State Fair attracts a number of key officials to the state each year,” said IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “It’s obviously a great time to talk agriculture and the role of renewable fuels. Farmers are hurting right now – that came through loud and clear. Our job is the tell the story of how renewable fuels can be part of the solution.” 

Long time IRFA member Rick Schwarck, chairman of Absolute Energy, was able to speak with USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins at the fair on August 9th. Rick is a great advocate for year-round E15 and increased ethanol exports. 

IRFA President Chris Boshart, general manager for Corn, LP, participated in an Ag Trade Roundtable with USDA Undersecretary Luke Lindberg and Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig  on August 11th. Boshart thanked the administration for including biofuels in trade deals and highlighted that they are a great way to reduce the trade deficit we have with many nations. Boshart also touched on the need to ensure tariff reductions are not just replaced with non-tariff barriers such as fees and taxes, along with emphasizing the need for year-round E15. 

Shaw caught up to EPA administrator Lee Zeldin at Senator Joni Ernst’s Entrepreneurial Expo on August 12th. Shaw spoke briefly with administrator Zeldin about the need to finalize rules allowing current fueling infrastructure to dispense E15 in line with recent legislation introduced by Sen. Ernst. 

Between August 11th and 14th, IRFA along with 18 other sponsors hosted the 16th annual Biofuels: Science and Sustainability Tour, which kicked off at the Iowa State Fair. The tour brought nearly 40 staff members from the U.S. Congress, U.S. Senate, EPA, USDA, and national laboratories to Iowa to learn about renewable fuels and how they power the rural economy. 

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 42 ethanol refineries capable of producing 4.7 billion gallons annually – including 34 million gallons of annual cellulosic ethanol production capacity – and 10 biodiesel facilities with the capacity to produce 416 million gallons annually. For more information, visit the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association website at: www.IowaRFA.org.  

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