EthanolDayPR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Contact: Monte Shaw

June 15, 2012

515-252-6249

Governor Branstad Declares June 15 as “Iowa Ethanol Day”

IRFA Kicks-Off 10th Anniversary Celebration by Releasing

New Economic Impact Study

JOHNSTON, IOWA – Iowa Governor Terry Branstad declared June 15th as Iowa Ethanol Day in recognition of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association’s (IRFA) 10th Anniversary and the 34th anniversary of the commercialization of E10. Joined by members of the ethanol and biodiesel industry, Branstad signed the proclamation at the Iowa State Capitol.

Noting that Iowa is the largest producer of ethanol and biodiesel and that renewable fuels help reduce gasoline prices by $1.69 per gallon, Branstad stated: “I, Terry E. Branstad, Governor of the State of Iowa, do hereby proclaim today, June 15, 2012 as Iowa Ethanol Day.”

Click here to view Gov. Branstad’s proclamation.

To launch its 10th Anniversary celebration, IRFA today also released a new study detailing the positive impact of renewable fuels on Iowa’s economy over the last decade. Economist John Urbanchuk, Technical Director for Environmental Economics with Cardno ENTRIX, found that the “renewable fuels industry has grown spectacularly over the past decade and Iowa has been a major participant and beneficiary.”

According to Urbanchuk’s study:

Over the last decade in Iowa, ethanol production has increased 741%, while biodiesel production has increased an astounding 1,600%;

The portion of Iowa’s agricultural economic output attributable to the renewable fuels industry increased from 4.6% in 2002 to more than 37% in 2011;

The price of farm land in Iowa has tripled over the past decade with the average price for all grades of cropland increasing from $2,083 per acre in 2002 to $6,708 in 2011. For acres planted to principal crops, the overall value of cropland in Iowa has increased from $51.2 billion in 2002 to $165.9 billion in 2011, an increase of 224%;

In 2002 the renewable fuels industry was a negligible component of Iowa’s manufacturing sector. By 2011, ethanol and biodiesel production accounted for nearly 7% of manufacturing sector output;

The total number of jobs in the entire Iowa economy supported by the renewable fuels industry has grown from about 3,500 full-time equivalent jobs in 2002 to more than 79,000 in 2011, an increase of more than 2,000%. By 2011, the renewable fuels industry directly or indirectly supported 5.4% of Iowa employment;

The renewable fuels industry has added $12.9 billion of income to the pockets of Iowans over the past decade; and,

The renewable fuels industry has generated $1.8 billion of tax revenue for Iowa over the past decade.

Click here to view the full study.

“The last decade really has been one of progress and prosperity for renewable fuels and rural Iowa,” stated IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “The new IRFA study highlights the profound impact ethanol and biodiesel production have on Iowa jobs, Iowa income, and Iowa wealth creation. Clearly, Iowa’s economy would be in a much different place if ethanol and biodiesel production were still at 2002 levels. The members of IRFA are proud to have played a role in helping the industry grow.”

Iowa is the leader in renewable fuels production. Iowa has 13 biodiesel facilities with the capacity to produce 320 million gallons annually. In addition, Iowa has 41 ethanol refineries capable of producing nearly 3.7 billion 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.

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For more information, visit the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association website at: