What Iowa Renewable Fuels Association does

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) is a state-level nonprofit trade association headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa, that represents the interests of Iowa's liquid renewable fuels industry. Its membership spans ethanol producers across 42 refineries with over 5 billion gallons of annual production capacity, biodiesel producers across 8 facilities with 408 million gallons of capacity, as well as fuel retailers, agricultural cooperatives, and farmer groups. The association's core functional remit is education, promotion, infrastructure development, and policy advocacy rather than product manufacturing or technology development.

IRFA generates revenue primarily through membership dues from its ethanol plant, biodiesel producer, and industry stakeholder members, supplemented by program partnerships. Its portfolio of activities includes operating the 16th annual Biofuels Science and Sustainability Tour for Washington D.C. staffers, running the Drive Clean Iowa consumer education campaign targeting young drivers, publishing weekly wholesale E85 price listings, commissioning economic impact studies through Decision Innovation Solutions, and managing the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program grants. The association also coordinates the Iowa On-Farm Biodiesel Credit Program in partnership with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

IRFA's primary strategic focus is securing favorable federal and state policies for its members, including year-round E15 access, favorable Renewable Fuel Standard blending levels, and timely permitting for the Summit Carbon Solutions CCS pipeline connecting 27 Iowa ethanol plants. The association represents an industry that contributes $5.4 billion to Iowa GDP, supports over 31,000 jobs, and consumes over 1 billion bushels of corn annually, positioning IRFA as a significant trade body within Iowa's agricultural economy. Its policy advocacy has produced measurable outcomes, most recently the 2026 U.S. House passage of year-round E15 legislation and EPA's finalization of 2026-2027 RFS blending levels.

Name

Iowa Renewable Fuels Association

Legal name

Iowa Renewable Fuels Association

Website

https://iowarfa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Iowa Renewable Fuels Association is a nonprofit trade association representing Iowa's liquid renewable fuels industry, serving 42 ethanol refineries and 8 biodiesel facilities through policy advocacy, education, and infrastructure development programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Renewable Fuels Trade Association

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Carbon Policy Interface for Renewables (ETS/Offsets/Carbon Taxes) (EUAMANAI)

Keywords

• Renewable fuels advocacy
• Biofuels trade association
• Ethanol industry promotion
• Biodiesel infrastructure programs
• Agricultural policy advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Johnston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: IRFA brings together Iowa biofuel producers as a membership-based trade association. Revenue is generated through membership dues from ethanol plants, biodiesel producers, and other industry stakeholders. The association uses these funds to foster industry development through education, promotion, and infrastructure development.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Iowa Renewable Fuels Association is a membership-based trade association that represents Iowa's liquid renewable fuels industry, including 42 ethanol refineries producing over 5 billion gallons annually and 8 biodiesel facilities producing 408 million gallons annually. The association delivers industry advocacy on policies including the Renewable Fuel Standard and year-round E15 access, consumer and policymaker education through campaigns like Drive Clean Iowa and the Biofuels Science and Sustainability Tour, and infrastructure support via the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program. It also operates the Iowa Wholesale E85 Price Listing Service and commissions economic impact studies through Decision Innovation Solutions to support the industry's $5.4 billion contribution to Iowa's GDP.

Product overview

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) is a trade association representing Iowa's liquid renewable fuels industry. The organization's portfolio consists of two core product categories: ethanol (including E10, E15/Unleaded 88, and E85) produced by 42 refineries with over 5 billion gallons annual capacity, and biodiesel (B5-B50 blends) from 8 facilities producing 408 million gallons annually. Supporting these fuel products are co-products including distillers grains (DDGS) animal feed and glycerin from biodiesel production. IRFA also operates educational programs (Drive Clean Campaign, Biofuels Science and Sustainability Tour), annual events (Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit), and services including the Iowa Wholesale E85 Price Listing Service. Infrastructure and incentive programs include the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP) grants and the On Farm Biodiesel Credit Program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Drive Clean: Educational campaign focused on helping young drivers make smart fuel choices, particularly promoting Unleaded 88/E15.

Products and services

• Ethanol Industry Representation (E10, E15/Unleaded 88, E85) Industry advocacy and representation for Iowa ethanol producers covering E10 (10% ethanol), E15/Unleaded 88 (15% ethanol for 2001+ vehicles), and E85 (70-85% ethanol for flex-fuel vehicles). Services include policy advocacy, market development, and infrastructure support for member ethanol refineries.
• Biodiesel Industry Representation (B5, B11, B20) Industry advocacy and representation for Iowa biodiesel producers covering B5, B11, B20, and B50 blends produced by 8 Iowa facilities with 408 million gallons of annual capacity. Services include policy advocacy, market development, and infrastructure support for member biodiesel facilities using vegetable oils and animal fats feedstocks.
• Drive Clean Iowa Campaign Consumer education campaign helping young drivers ages 14-18 make smart fuel choices, particularly promoting Unleaded 88/E15 at the pump. Includes social media presence on Instagram and TikTok (@DriveCleanIowa), donations to high school After-Prom events, and branded merchandise.
• Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit Annual industry conference showcasing renewable fuels developments, featuring industry leaders discussing topics including unlocking new demand, national policy updates, sustainable aviation fuel, and market development.
• Biofuels Science and Sustainability Tour Annual educational tour bringing Washington D.C. Congressional and Administration staff to Iowa for hands-on biofuel industry education from farm field to fuel pump. Connects policy decision-makers directly with producers, farmers, and the renewable fuels value chain.
• Iowa Wholesale E85 Price Listing Service Weekly published wholesale E85 pricing service providing market transparency from multiple suppliers across Iowa. Serves retailers and producers with up-to-date wholesale pricing information to support purchasing and pricing decisions.
• Iowa On-Farm Biodiesel Credit Program State-administered program providing fuel credits of 25 cents per gallon for B11 biodiesel and 50 cents per gallon for B20 and higher blends to Iowa farmers filling on-farm bulk tanks. Maximum credit is $500 per diesel end user. Administered in partnership with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the Iowa Biodiesel Board, and member producers.
• Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP) Iowa state cost-share grant program offering up to $50,000 for installation of ethanol/biodiesel dispensers, blender pumps, E85 dispensers, and storage facilities. Managed by Paul Ovrom at the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, with IRFA facilitating retailer participation.
• Iowa Retailer Renewable Fuels Tax Credit Calculator Excel-based calculator tool helping fuel retailers determine applicable federal and state biofuel tax incentives and credits for selling ethanol and biodiesel blends.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ethanol production: 4.6 billion gallons in 2025, representing Iowa's continued leadership in national production
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in Action (USFRA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026USFRA commissioned S&P Global to conduct a study on agricultural productivity and E15 market demand. IRFA was referenced in the study findings highlighting the importance of expanding consumer access to E15 for creating additional demand for Iowa-grown corn.
• Summit Carbon SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Summit Carbon Solutions is developing a carbon capture, use, and sequestration (CCUS) pipeline project that IRFA strongly advocates for. 27 Iowa ethanol plants are part of the Summit project, which IRFA estimates could generate nearly $2 billion annually in additional revenue for Iowa's ethanol industry. IRFA filed formal requests urging the Iowa Utilities Commission to take timely action on the permit.
• Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026IRFA and ICGA frequently collaborate on policy advocacy initiatives, including joint full-page advertisements in the Des Moines Register urging Congressional action on year-round E15. Both organizations represent Iowa agriculture interests and work together on issues affecting corn demand and renewable fuels production.
• Decision Innovation Solutions (DIS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024DIS is Iowa's premier agriculture economic research and analysis firm that has conducted multiple economic impact studies for IRFA, including the Sustainable Aviation Fuel economic impact study, the Carbon Capture and Sequestration impact studies (Phase 1 and 2), and annual economic contribution reports. DIS provides the economic data foundation for IRFA's policy advocacy.
• Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land StewardshipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP), which offers cost-share grants for installation of biodiesel dispensers, storage facilities, blender pumps, and E85 dispensers. The program is managed by Paul Ovrom at IDALS.
• Western Iowa EnergyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProgram partner in the Iowa On-Farm Biodiesel Credit Program, which provides fuel credits to Iowa farmers using biodiesel in on-farm operations.
• Iowa Biodiesel BoardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram partner in the Iowa On-Farm Biodiesel Credit Program, along with Iowa Soybean Board.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Iowa Soybean Association: Iowa state soybean grower organization. Adjacent peer to IRFA, as soybean oil is a critical biodiesel feedstock. Aligns with IRFA on biodiesel and renewable diesel demand for soybean crush economics, though organized for growers rather than fuel producers.

Direct peers

• Renewable Fuels Association: National trade association for the U.S. ethanol industry. RFA is the most direct peer to IRFA, operating at the federal level on overlapping policy advocacy (RFS, E15, trade, blender pumps) and serving ethanol producers across multiple states.
• American Coalition for Ethanol: National grassroots ethanol advocacy organization. ACE is a direct peer focused on RFS implementation, E15 retail adoption, and producer support—operating on the same policy and infrastructure priorities as IRFA at the national level.
• Growth Energy: National ethanol trade association representing producers and supporters. Growth Energy is a direct peer, sharing IRFA's mission of expanding ethanol markets, advocating for higher blends like E15, and educating policymakers on biofuel benefits.
• Clean Fuels Alliance America: National trade association for biodiesel and renewable diesel producers (formerly National Biodiesel Board). Clean Fuels is a direct peer to IRFA's biodiesel members, advocating for biomass-based diesel RFS volumes and feedstock supply chains.
• South Dakota Renewable Fuels Association: State-level biofuel trade association representing South Dakota ethanol producers. Direct peer with overlapping Midwest corn-belt focus, similar member composition, and shared policy priorities on RFS and E15.
• Iowa Biodiesel Board: State-level biodiesel trade association within Iowa. Direct peer organization (also an IRFA program partner) representing the biodiesel segment of Iowa's renewable fuels industry, with state-specific advocacy and consumer education.
• Nebraska Ethanol Board: State agency supporting Nebraska ethanol producers. Functions as a direct peer to IRFA with overlapping geographic and producer-base focus, addressing E15 retail adoption, renewable fuels promotion, and consumer education.
• Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association: State-level biofuel trade association representing Minnesota ethanol producers. Direct peer with the same mission, structure, and policy focus as IRFA, addressing E15, CCS, and producer advocacy in a competing corn-belt state.

Regional players

• Indiana Corn Growers Association / Indiana Corn Marketing Council: State corn grower organization with strong renewable fuels advocacy focus. Functions as a regional peer to IRFA, representing corn farmer interests in ethanol demand and policy, though organized as a grower association rather than a fuels-specific trade body.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@IowaRenewableFuels
• Instagraminstagram.com/DriveCleanIowa
• Xx.com/iowafuel
• Facebookfacebook.com/Iowa.Renewable.Fuels
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iowarfa

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Iowa Renewable Fuels Association