2016 was a record setting year for Iowa’s 43 ethanol plants with 4.1 million gallons of ethanol produced. Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw says that’s up slightly from last year.

He says the increase in ethanol production can be partially attributed to increased ethanol exports as well as more demand in gasoline.

Shaw says fixing some regulatory hurdles such as the Reid Vapor Pressure issue that halts E15 use during the summer and increasing funding for blender pumps could help Iowa’s ethanol production grow even more.

Shaw says his group’s top policy priority for 2017 is securing funding for the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure program to ensure more retailers have the equipment necessary to offer higher blends of ethanol now and in the future.