Opinion research shows RFS policy support is key Iowa voter issue

Photo: Jenna Higgins Rose

September 3, 2019

BY The Iowa Biodiesel Board

New public opinion research shows a decisive 78 percent of voters in Iowa support expanding biofuel usage in the U.S. through the federal Renewable Fuel Standard. In addition, 77 percent of voters said it’s important to them that the president keep his promises on supporting the RFS.

The Iowa Biodiesel Board commissioned the biannual survey on biodiesel awareness and biofuel-related political values.

“The president may think he has Iowa cinched up for 2020, but my vote is 100 percent up for grabs,” said Dave Walton, a farmer from Wilton, Iowa. Walton serves as a director for both the Iowa Soybean Association and IBB. “Although I voted for him last time, President Trump needs to make a serious fourth quarter comeback on biodiesel and trade to earn my vote again.”

Advertisement

Earlier this month, ISA sent a letter to President Trump urging him to put a stop to the “unacceptable” undermining of the RFS, courtesy of waivers to petroleum refiners, and exacerbated by failing to budge on volume increases.

“Farmers are getting hit hard with trade and market conditions, but meaningful support for growing biofuels in the RFS, and renewing the lapsed biodiesel tax credit, would be a huge step in the right direction,” said Grant Kimberley, executive director of the Iowa Biodiesel Board.

The majority of voters surveyed also said any presidential or congressional candidate’s position on the RFS is important to their vote. Kimberley said he hopes democratic presidential candidates will take note, too.

Advertisement

“As a sustainable, commercially available advanced biofuel with economic and environmental benefits, biodiesel is a true success story for what America’s innovative farmers and business community can achieve in energy production,” Kimberley said.

Six biodiesel plants have shut down nationwide in the past year due to weakened federal policy, Kimberley said. Iowa is the nation’s top biodiesel-producing state.

A professional public opinion research firm, Moore Information, conducted the online survey of 470 registered voters in Iowa in late July. To view the report, click here

Biodiesel is made from a variety of resources including soybean oil, recycled cooking oil and animal fats. The Iowa Biodiesel Board is a nonpartisan state trade association representing the biodiesel industry.

Related Stories

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is soliciting public comments on a preliminary plan for determining provisional emissions rates (PER) for the purposes of the 45Z clean fuel production credit.

Read More

A new study published by the ABFA finds that the U.S. EPA’s proposal to cut the RIN by 50% for fuels made from foreign feedstocks, as part of its 2026 and 2027 RVOs, could stall the growth of the biomass-based diesel (BBD) industry.

Read More

Reps. Mike Flood, R-Neb., and Troy A. Carter, Sr., D-La., on July 21 reintroduced the SAF Information Act. The bill directs the U.S. EIA to more explicitly include SAF data in its weekly and monthly reports.

Read More

The U.S Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office, in partnership with the Algae Foundation and NREL, on July 21 announced the grand champion and top four winning teams of the 2023 - 2025 U.S. DOE AlgaePrize Competition.

Read More

The European Commission on July 18 announced its investigation into biodiesel imports from China is now complete and did not confirm the existence of fraud. The commission will take action, however, to address some systemic weaknesses it identified.

Read More

Upcoming Events

Sign up for our e-newsletter!

Advertisement

Advertisement