Farm Progress

“Making Ethanol Great Again” is theme of upcoming Iowa summit

Iowa Renewable Fuels Association’s annual conference will discuss Trump administration’s likely impact on biofuels.

Rod Swoboda 1, Editor, Wallaces Farmer

December 17, 2016

2 Min Read
BIOFUEL POLICY: Bob Dinneen, president of the national Renewable Fuels Association, is one of several speakers who will address ethanol issues and government policy at the 2017 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit. Register now to attend January 31 at Altoona, Iowa.

The president of the national Renewable Fuels Association, Bob Dinneen, will discuss the possible impact a new administration in the White House and a new Congress in Washington will have on the renewable fuels industry during his keynote address at the 2017 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit on January 31 in Altoona, Iowa. 

“The inauguration of a new president always creates the potential for changes to U.S. energy and trade policy,” says Iowa Renewable Fuels Association managing director Lucy Norton.  “As head of the national Renewable Fuels Association, Bob Dinneen is well-positioned to forecast the future impact any policy changes could have on the ethanol industry and ensure renewable fuels always plays a key role in that discussion.”

Will offer a forecast of Trump administration’s impact on biofuels
An industry veteran with 30 years of experience in U.S. fuel ethanol policy and as head of a leading trade association for America’s ethanol industry, Dinneen serves as a recognized leader on ethanol issues. He is a key strategist in advancing policies that create dynamic and robust markets for renewable fuels. Dinneen was instrumental in enacting the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in 2005 and, two years later, in expanding the RFS to 36 billion gallons by 2022.

Other topics and speakers will look at other aspects, including new technologies and marketing, to learn what’s next for renewable fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel. “You can hear what the experts have to say about high-octane, low-carbon fuels and future engine technology,” says Norton. There will also be a discussion on the outlook for ethanol trade and exports, and other aspects of energy policy.

The 2017 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit will take place at the Prairie Meadows Conference Center on January 31, 2017. It is located at Altoona, on the northeast edge of Des Moines. The summit is free to attend and open to the public. To register to attend and to learn more about the summit, and to review sponsorship and trade show opportunities, please visit iowaRFA.org/summit.

Iowa is the leading state in production of ethanol and biodiesel
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 more than 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. For more information about the biofuels industry in Iowa, visit the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association website IowaRFA.org.

About the Author

Rod Swoboda 1

Editor, Wallaces Farmer

Rod, who has been a member of the editorial staff of Wallaces Farmer magazine since 1976, was appointed editor of the magazine in April 2003. He is widely recognized around the state, especially for his articles on crop production and soil conservation topics, and has won several writing awards, in addition to honors from farm, commodity and conservation organizations.

"As only the tenth person to hold the position of Wallaces Farmer editor in the past 100 years, I take seriously my responsibility to provide readers with timely articles useful to them in their farming operations," Rod says.

Raised on a farm that is still owned and operated by his family, Rod enjoys writing and interviewing farmers and others involved in agriculture, as well as planning and editing the magazine. You can also find Rod at other Farm Progress Company activities where he has responsibilities associated with the magazine, including hosting the Farm Progress Show, Farm Progress Hay Expo and the Iowa Master Farmer program.

A University of Illinois grad with a Bachelors of Science degree in agriculture (ag journalism major), Rod joined Wallaces Farmer after working several years in Washington D.C. as a writer for Farm Business Incorporated.

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