MEDIA CONTACT

Monte Shaw 515-252-6249

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                               

January 19, 2011                                                                                                                   

Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum to Address
5th Annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit

JOHNSTON, IA – The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) announced today that former two-term U.S. Senator Rick Santorum will address the 5th Annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit on January 25, 2011 at the Polk County Convention Complex in downtown Des Moines.

“Senator Santorum was a leader in the Senate when it passed the original renewable fuels standard and he has remained engaged in the public policy debate,” said IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “With the future of renewable fuels policy in flux, we’re excited to hear his unique perspective on what lies ahead for home-grown energy.”

Santorum is now a Senior Fellow at The Ethics and Public Policy Center, the Friday host of Bill Bennett’s ‘Morning in America’ nationally-syndicated radio program, a contributor on the Fox News Channel and a columnist with The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The Summit and concurrent trade show, being held from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, is free and open to the public.  Pre-registration is required.  Participants can register online at www.IowaRFA.org by January 21st, where they’ll also find additional links and information relating to the Summit, or by calling Lucy Norton at 515-252-6249.

Santorum is scheduled to address the Summit at 4:00 pm.  Other speakers include Governor Terry Branstad, Renewable Fuels Association President Bob Dinneen, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, and NASCAR Champion Rusty Wallace.  Other program highlights for this year’s Summit include:  “E15:  Bringing More Fuel Choices to Iowa,”  “Iowa Biodiesel Resurgence,” and “Advanced Biofuels – A Turning Point for Renewable Energy.”

Iowa is the leader in renewable fuels production.  Iowa has 41 ethanol refineries capable of producing nearly 3.7 billion gallons annually. In addition, Iowa has 12 biodiesel facilities with the capacity to produce over 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.

###