The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association  announced that Iowa’s 43 ethanol plants produced 3.9 billion gallons during 2014, up from 3.7 billion gallons the previous three years. Iowa continues to be the number one ethanol producing state, and is estimated to account for roughly 27 percent of national ethanol production in 2014.  For the first time, a small amount of the ethanol production came from cellulosic feedstocks such as corn stover and corn kernel fiber. 

“It was nice to see Iowa take a step forward both in terms of overall production and diversity of feedstocks,” said IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “While Iowa could easily take another step forward in 2015 given this fall’s record harvest, continuing uncertainty with the federal Renewable Fuel Standard and lack of consumer access to E15 pose roadblocks.  Ethanol continues to be the world’s cheapest source of fuel octane and until U.S. energy policy is straightened out, the growth opportunities for ethanol may be in exports.”

Iowa is the nation’s leader in renewable fuels production. Iowa has 43 ethanol refineries capable of producing more than 3.8 billion gallons annually, including 22 million gallons of annual cellulosic ethanol production capacity and one cellulosic ethanol facility currently under construction. In addition, Iowa has 12 biodiesel facilities with the capacity to produce nearly 315 million gallons annually.