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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 30, 2007

Iowa Used Ethanol 70% of the Time in 2006

E85 Sales Triple Over 2005

JOHNSTON, IA – The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) today announced that nearly 70% of Iowa gasoline sales were blended with ethanol in 2006.  This is a drop from 2005 when 75% of Iowa gasoline contained ethanol.

            “Iowa’s ethanol sales are strong, but there’s definite room for improvement,” said Monte Shaw, IRFA Executive Director.  “When you remember that MTBE removal on the coasts led to robust ethanol prices this summer, these sales figures are still pretty exciting.  IRFA also estimates that E85 sales will break the 2 million gallon mark – triple last year – and continue to escalate rapidly.”

            According to the Iowa Department of Revenue (IDR), in 2006 Iowans purchased:

Type                            Gallons             Percentage of IA Gasoline Sales

E0 Gasoline                     505,281,988             30.7%

E10 (10% ethanol)       1,140,987,948             69.2%

E85 (85% ethanol)              2,150,000*             0.1%

*  Based on actual IDR figures for Jan.-Sept. and Oct.-Dec. IRFA estimate

            “In many states ethanol is blended into nearly every gallon of gasoline,” added Shaw.  “Iowa is the leading renewable fuels producer and with the 25% Iowa Renewable Fuels Standard we can become the leading consumer of renewable fuels as well.”

Iowa is the leader in renewable fuels production.  Iowa has 26 ethanol refineries with the capacity to produce over 1.7 billion gallons annually.  There are 21 ethanol refineries under construction or expansion that will add 1.6 billion gallons of annual capacity. In addition, Iowa has 14 biodiesel refineries with a combined annual capacity of over 315 million gallons either in operation or under construction.  Many additional renewable fuels projects are under development.

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