IA Secretary of Agriculture Requests Nominations For Renewable Fuels Marketing Awards

Date Posted: November 11, 2014

Des Moines, Iowa—Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today encouraged Iowa fuel retailers and gas stations to submit nominations for the Secretary’s Renewable Fuels Marketing Awards, which recognize fuel retailers that have gone above and beyond in their efforts to sell renewable fuels.

Awards are presented for both the marketing of ethanol and biodiesel.

“Fuel retailers continue to take steps to make ethanol and biodiesel more available to Iowa customers and this award is an opportunity to recognize those who have shown leadership in promoting these renewable fuels and making them more available to customers,” Northey said.

Qualifying entities will be those that market the renewable fuels they have available through creative means including, but not limited to: hosting special events highlighting their renewable fuels, development of creative signage, initiation of new advertisements or marketing efforts, and efforts that dramatically increase renewable fuel availability.

Nominations forms can be found here on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website at www.IowaAgriculture.gov.

Completed nominations can be submitted via email at Dustin.VandeHoef@iowaagriculture.gov or mail at Henry A. Wallace Building, Attn: Dustin Vande Hoef, 502 East 9th Street, Des Moines IA 50319.

Nominations must be submitted by Dec. 31, 2014.

This is the eighth year for the award.

Russ and Barb Danielsen from Southern Iowa Oil and Jason Stauffer from STAR Energy Manson were the 2014 award winners.

Iowa leads the nation in the production of ethanol and biodiesel.

According to the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, 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 Infrastructure Program offers cost-share grants for the installation of E85 dispensers, blender pumps, biodiesel dispensers, and biodiesel storage facilities.

Northey, a corn and soybean farmer from Spirit Lake, is serving his second term as Secretary of Agriculture.

His priorities as Secretary of Agriculture are advancing the opportunities available through renewable energy, promoting conservation and stewardship, and telling the story of Iowa agriculture.

For more information, please contact Dustin Vande Hoef at 515-281-3375 or Dustin.VandeHoef@iowaagriculture.gov

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