Iowa’s ethanol plants produced a record amount of ethanol in 2018, surpassing the 4.2 million gallons reached in 2017. Cassidy Walter of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association says while they broke the record for ethanol production it was under their overall capacity to produce the fuel.
She says that expansion was based on expectations for full implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard, along with being able to sell ethanol to China which didn’t happen.
Walter says several other global customers stepped up to buy ethanol to help Iowa set a production record. However, she says to reach Iowa’s capacity for ethanol production the EPA must reallocate the RFS small refiner waivers.
Walter says Iowa’s ethanol producers have been able to succeed, despite reports of idled and even shuttered plants in other states.
