• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Agriculture / Summit focuses on renewable fuels

Summit focuses on renewable fuels

January 25, 2010 By Matt Kelley

Supporters of the renewable fuels industry are gathering in Des Moines today for an annual summit. The day-long event comes at a time when biodiesel production in the state has grinded to a near halt. Monte Shaw with the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association  blames Congress for failing to reauthorize the biodiesel excise tax credit that expired on December 31.

“There’s no real opposition to it, they just quite frankly didn’t get it done. It has caused plants to shut down and it has forced layoffs,” Shaw said. At the end of 2009, eight of Iowa’s 15 biodiesel plants were operating at some capacity. Shaw says since the lapse of the tax credit, only two plants are operating at what he calls a “trickle rate.”

When they are operating at full capacity, each biodiesel plant employs 20 to 30 people. Shaw believes policy changes at the state level could help place the biodiesel industry on the road to recovery. Those changes might include a B-5 diesel standard – requiring all diesel fuel sold in Iowa to contain 5% biodiesel.

“At that level, it’s still diesel fuel. There’s no operability issues, so it’s pretty straight forward,” Shaw said. “Yet, that base line level of demand that it would create for local producers would help them cash flow through some of these tough times.” Minnesota is one state that has the B-5 standard in place. Shaw says Iowa remains the top producer of both ethanol and biodiesel, but is on the brink of losing the biodiesel status.

Iowa ethanol production hit a record 3.1 billion gallons in 2009. Shaw says all 39 of Iowa’s ethanol plants are up and running. A study released today by Shaw’s organization claims Iowa’s renewable fuels industry accounted for nearly 8% of the state’s Gross Domestic Product last year and boosted state tax revenue by $532 million.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Agriculture, Business, Outdoors

Featured Stories

Final employee who was there at the launch of the Iowa Lottery to retire

No more USPS mail in Iowa prisons; inmates to get copies of mail

State officials warn of influx of fake prescription drugs laced with fentanyl

‘Brain-eating amoeba’ discovered in Taylor County lake

Cedar Rapids therapist’s relationship with student leads to years in prison

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Knee injury sidelines Iowa’s Feuerbach

Iowa State’s McDonald has unfinished business

Hawkeyes open fall camp

Northern Iowa picked to finish fifth in MVFC race

Hunter Dekkers takes over at Iowa State

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2022 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC