Will your car be powered by an electric battery, or by ethanol or biodiesel 10 years from now? John Eichberger, executive director of the Fuels Institute, will discuss the latest market research and trends for U.S. fuels and automobiles at the 2019 Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Summit on Jan. 29 at Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa. 

IRFA focuses on ethanol and biodiesel production in Iowa, and many wonder if more cars in the future will be powered by electricity instead of liquid renewable fuels. The Fuels Institute commissions research on trends pertaining to future fuel and automotive markets. Eichberger will share some of the insight the institute has garnered.

Fuels, automobiles changing
“Fuels and automobiles are changing around the globe,” says Lucy Norton, managing director of IRFA. “We are excited to hear John’s analysis of these changes. We look forward to his insight on future transportation from high-octane biofuels to electric vehicles and more.” 

The summit is free and open to the public. Registration is required. The last day to preregister is Jan. 25. To register, visit IowaRenewableFuelsSummit.org.

Also at the IRFA Summit, National Biodiesel Board CEO Donnell Rehagen will highlight the American success story of biodiesel and discuss what’s on the horizon for the nation’s leading advanced biofuel.

“Year after year the biodiesel industry continues to outpace and outproduce expectations,” Rehagen says. “Supporting more than 64,000 jobs and reducing greenhouse gases by up to 86%, biodiesel has been a great success for rural economies and our environment. The future is bright for biodiesel. I’m excited to discuss the opportunities that lay before us and the questions we must answer together as an industry.”

The National Biodiesel Board is the national trade association representing America’s first advanced biofuel. The group works to create sustainable biodiesel industry growth through education, communication, governmental affairs, technical and quality assurance programs. “Under Donnell’s leadership, the National Biodiesel Board has made great strides in creating new opportunities for the biodiesel industry and we look forward to having him share his vision of what comes next for biodiesel,” Norton says.

Other topics to explore
You can also hear experts give their perspective on how biofuels fit into the future petroleum markets, the role for biofuels in meeting global clean air policies, and how biofuels will have to overcome trade and market hurdles to achieve market growth.

IRFA represents Iowa’s liquid renewable fuels industry and works to foster its growth. Iowa is the nation’s leader in renewable fuels production with 44 ethanol refineries capable of producing nearly 4.4 billion gallons annually, including about 55 million gallons of annual cellulosic ethanol production capacity, and 12 biodiesel facilities with capacity to produce 400 million gallons annually. For information, visit IowaRFA.org.