Following Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad’s emergency proclamation to allow for more transport of diesel products, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association today reminded diesel users and suppliers that using cleaner-burning, homegrown biodiesel ranging in blends of 5 to 20 percent can help stretch tight supplies.

“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,” stated IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “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.”

“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.”

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.

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association was formed in 2002 to represent the state’s liquid renewable fuels industry. The trade group fosters the development and growth of the renewable fuels industry in Iowa through education, promotion, legislation and infrastructure development.