Iowa’s RFA pushes biodiesel in response to diesel shortage

In Iowa, the state’s renewable fuels association says that given Gov. Branstad’s emergency proclamation, one of the best ways to help alleviate tight diesel supplies is to blend it with high-quality, homegrown biodiesel. “High-quality biodiesel blends ranging from B5 to B20 can be used and treated just as No. 2 diesel throughout the winter. Several Iowa biodiesel producers have supplies that can be shipped to a fuel terminal or jobber today,” said IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw.

“I’m currently using B20 to push snow and keep my farm operation moving throughout the colder months,” stated Denny Mauser, a farmer from Early, Iowa, and board member of Western Iowa Energy in Wall Lake, Iowa. “Using biodiesel right now will not only help alleviate the tight supply issues, but it will also support American jobs, energy security and a cleaner environment. That’s a win-win for Iowa.”

On Nov. 21, Gov. Branstad approved an emergency proclamation “suspending regulatory provisions for transport of diesel products.” The proclamation stated, “because of pipeline and refining outages affecting the supply of gasoline products in Iowa and throughout the upper Midwest, coupled with an abrupt and early drop in temperatures throughout the state, the people of the State of Iowa are faced with extremely low inventories of gasoline products.”