‘No extra Iowa good’: Biofuels leaders push for year-round E15
Iowa Renewable Fuels Affiliation 2025 summit appears to be like to future alternatives
ALTOONA — Monte Shaw, government director of Iowa Renewable Fuels Affiliation urged business leaders and farmers on the affiliation’s summit Tuesday to pursue increasing markets and to be cautious of “trying within the rearview mirror.”
Leaders in ethanol, biofuels and related markets from throughout the nation gathered on the Prairie Meadows Occasion Heart in Altoona for the Iowa Renewable Fuels Affiliation annual summit, this 12 months with a theme of “fuels of alternative.”
Shaw, in a gap session shared his commentary of a divide he sees in Iowa.
Shaw mentioned, admitting he finds himself within the second camp.
It’s a divide between individuals who suppose every little thing is ok, and individuals who suppose that the foundations of our rural financial system are slightly bit shaky,
Shaw pointed to figures from the U.S. Division of Agriculture displaying a $90 billion decline in internet farm revenue forecasts from 2023 and 2024.
That’s worse than the declines, by share factors, within the Nineteen Eighties, Shaw mentioned.
Simply as biofuels delivered farmers out of the farm disaster within the Nineteen Eighties, Shaw mentioned looking forward to new markets, like sustainable aviation gas and elevated demand for biofuels, can revive rural economies. Probably the most speedy push is for Congress to permit the year-round sale of E15, a mix of ethanol gas, throughout the nation.
Shaw mentioned,
Mr. Speaker, the decision from Iowa can’t be extra clear or extra plain,
Shaw mentioned,
It’s time to repair E15 now, no extra delays, no extra Iowa good, we’ve got been affected person for a decade, however fairly frankly we’re carried out ready,
Shaw mentioned this motion is the “close to time period demand driver” that will assist farmers, assist shoppers to save lots of on the pump “and be a significant a part of American power dominance.”
To succeed in the rising markets, Shaw mentioned it’d require new practices like conservation farming methods or implementing carbon sequestration at biofuels services.
Shaw mentioned,
However why ought to change deter us?
“American agriculture is at all times altering.”
Towards the entrance of the exhibition corridor, IRFA had a poster board and everlasting markers for attendees to signal and urge Home Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Chief John Thune to push for adoption of year-round E15 gross sales.
E15 has been a push from Iowans, together with Gov. Kim Reynolds, who was slated to talk on the occasion however needed to cancel to attend the funeral of Rep. Martin Graber, who died Jan. 31.
Shaw mentioned work to get year-round E15 appears to be “one step ahead and two steps again.”
E15 regulation was a part of a proposed spending invoice in December 2024 to maintain the federal authorities working, however the provision was scrapped within the ultimate invoice that handed.
Extra lately, considered one of President Donald Trump’s government orders from the primary week of his time period ordered the Environmental Safety Company to contemplate emergency waivers for the year-round sale of E15.
Iowa’s U.S. senators have additionally reintroduced a invoice, generally known as the Farm to Fly Act, to make clear program eligibility and definitions of sustainable aviation gas.
Sustainable aviation gas is among the “fuels of alternative” that presenters on the summit mentioned might elevate internet farm revenue once more. Biofuel producers have been ready for official steerage on a sustainable aviation gas tax credit score, 45z.
Shaw mentioned,
The excellent news is we’ve got made progress,
“Appreciation for a few of the conventional biofuels is robust, however I believe we’ve got some work that is still as we search to maneuver into new markets like sustainable aviation gas.”
Chris Boshart, president of Iowa Renewable Fuels Affiliation, moderated a panel later within the day with business leaders about future markets for biofuels, together with sustainable aviation fuels, carbon sequestration markets and additional collaboration with different liquid fuels.
Boshart mentioned many of those markets are pushed by world needs to cut back environmental footprints and biofuels producers and feedstock growers want to stick to these needs if they’re to entry these markets.
Boshart mentioned,
Biofuels introduced the American financial system out of the stagnation of the Nineties they usually powered us by the Nice Recession of the 2010s, they usually might reverse the latest downtrend within the ag financial system if we select to allow them to,
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‘No extra Iowa good’: Biofuels leaders push for year-round E15, supply
