IRFA Iowa Renewable Fuels Association : RFS is Key to Long-Term Renewable Fuels Success Read More...

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Renewable Fuels Industry Ready to Fight for Level Playing Field

JOHNSTON, IOWA - Fighting to maintain a strong and growing federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is key to long-term renewable fuels success, stated Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw at the 10 Annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit today.

'Today, Iowa's renewable fuels industry - the entire renewable fuels industry quite frankly - is at a fork in the road,' stated Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw. 'We must decide whether to retreat, or whether to fight for victory.'

'I know the renewable fuels industry will not waiver or retreat or surrender. It will continue to battle for market access and to tear down the bogus 'blend wall.' I know this because the renewable fuels industry has fought the odds for 35 years - and won. I know this because it simply is not in a farmer's DNA to quit,' said Shaw.

'Keeping the RFS intact is key to near term biodiesel growth, the ability for cellulosic ethanol to have a chance to develop, and to pulling corn ethanol above 15 billion gallons per year,' added Shaw. 'When the RFS finally breaches the artificial blend wall and major markets add the distribution infrastructure necessary for E15, ethanol use won't increase by just that prescribed amount. Once the hole is in the dam, the octane value of corn ethanol will burst through - pulled by the RFS just as certainly as cellulosic ethanol and biodiesel.'

To view Shaw's selected prepared remarks, please click here.

Iowa is the nation's leader in renewable fuels production. Iowa has 43 ethanol refineries capable of producing 4 billion gallons annually, including nearly 55 million gallons of annual cellulosic ethanol production capacity. 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