FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Monte Shaw, 515-252-6249

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 29, 2009

E10 Sales Reach 75 Percent of Gasoline Market in 2008

Consumers Saved As Much As $155 Million with Ethanol

JOHNSTON, IA – The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) today announced that Iowans chose E10, a 10 percent ethanol and 90 percent gasoline blend, 75 percent of the time in 2008.  While this was slightly higher than 2007, it was the same level as 2005.  With a typical savings at the pump of 10 to 13 cents per gallon, Iowa consumers saved between $120 and $155 million with E10 during 2008.

              “This is a good news, bad news report,” said Monte Shaw, IRFA Executive Director.  “On one hand, we matched the all-time high of 75% E10 sales first set in 2005.  On the other hand, in 2005 Iowa was one of the leaders in ethanol use, but in 2008 the same percentage is likely below the national average.  The rest of the country has rapidly surpassed us.  As the leading ethanol producer, Iowa should not be satisfied with being below average in ethanol use.  When you consider that Iowans saved up to $155 million with ethanol in 2008, we have to take steps to increase use, thereby saving consumers even more.”

              According to the Iowa Department of Revenue (IDR), in 2008 Iowans purchased:

Type                                  Gallons                 Percentage of Iowa Gasoline Sales

E0 Gasoline                         397,245,643                 25.0%

E10                                    1,193,833,838                 75.0%

Previous E10 Usage in Iowa

              2008      75.0%

              2007      73.9%

              2006      69.3%

              2005      75.0%

*  Note:  These figures do not reflect E85 sales, which are reported separately and at a later date by the IDR.

Iowa is the leader in renewable fuels production.  Iowa has 38 operational ethanol refineries with a combined annual capacity of over 3 billion gallons.  There are 5 ethanol refineries under construction that will add nearly 700 million gallons of capacity.  In addition, Iowa has 14 biodiesel refineries with the capacity to produce over 317 million gallons annually.  Two biodiesel refineries under construction or expansion will add 35 million gallons of annual capacity.  Additional renewable fuels projects are under development.

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.