The policy roundtable at the 2020 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit on Jan. 16 will take on all facets of the Renewable Fuel Standard and discuss the future for the policy.

“To say it has been a tough year for the biofuels industry would be a great understatement,” says Monte Shaw, Iowa Renewable Fuels Association executive director. “Refinery exemptions have destroyed billions of gallons of biofuel demand and led to the shuttering of dozens of ethanol and biodiesel production plants nationwide. Our IRFA roundtable at the summit will dig into the path forward for the RFS, and other policies and regulations that impact ethanol and biodiesel producers.”

Looking at policies, regulations

The roundtable will feature Geoff Cooper, CEO of the national Renewable Fuels Association; David Cobb, director of federal affairs for the National Biodiesel Board; Anne Steckel, biofuels adviser for the National Farmers Union; and James Carstensen, federal government affairs manager for DuPont. The roundtable session will be moderated by Shaw.

The summit will be at the Prairie Meadows Conference Center in Altoona, on the northeast edge of Des Moines. The summit is free to attend and open to the public, but registration is required. To register to attend or learn more about the event, visit IowaRenewableFuelsSummit.org.

Between national calls to lower greenhouse gas emissions, a global need for cleaner air, and a market deficit for U.S. farmers for corn and soybeans in the midst of global trade disputes, many opportunities exist for ethanol and biodiesel to play a role in the world’s energy landscape, Shaw says. RFA’s Geoff Cooper will discuss these opportunities and how biofuel producers can forge a road ahead.

What’s ahead for U.S. ethanol?

“America’s ethanol producers have a powerful story to tell,” Cooper says. “Whether you’re concerned about jobs and market opportunities in rural communities, clean and sustainable fuel choices in urban cities, or protecting our nation’s security with a domestic fuel supply, ethanol is an excellent fuel choice to address those concerns and more. We in the industry need to be bold in sharing that story.”

The RFA represents American ethanol producers and works to drive expanded demand for U.S.-made renewable fuels and bioproducts worldwide. Cooper was named president and CEO of the association in 2018. He previously served as executive vice president.

“Having known and worked with Geoff for many years, I know he’ll provide our summit attendees with important insight into what lies ahead for U.S. ethanol. It’s been a tough year in 2019, and I look forward to hearing Geoff’s thoughts on how we should navigate the next year 2020,” Shaw says.

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