IRFA welcomes 4 new producer-members

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association announced Sept. 15 that four new producers have joined the state trade association during 2022. The new members expand not only the depth of IRFA but also its breadth.

Chevron Renewable Energy Group and Hero BX make low-carbon biodiesel in Iowa, while Gevo and Verbio North America produce renewable natural gas (RNG).

“IRFA is very pleased to bring on board these new members,” said Monte Shaw, executive director of IRFA. “We work hard to represent biodiesel and ethanol producers, and it’s exciting to expand into renewable natural gas. What brings all these companies together with our previous members is a desire to produce home-grown energy from renewable feedstocks that can benefit consumers by reducing their fuel costs and improving the air they breathe.”

Renewable Energy Group had been a longstanding IRFA member. Following an acquisition by Chevron, the newly formed Chevron Renewable Energy Group, headquartered in Ames, Iowa, has biodiesel production facilities in Mason City, Newton and Ralston, as well as other facilities around the U.S. and Germany.

Gevo is a renewable chemicals and advanced biofuels company dedicated to delivering low-carbon, sustainable fuels. While Gevo’s scope includes many projects, like sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), its membership in IRFA is tied to its RNG production project in Northwest Iowa.

With its roots in the Northeast U.S., Hero BX has expanded to produce high-quality, low-carbon biodiesel from five facilities across the nation, including plants in Clinton and Washington, Iowa.

With its parent company headquartered in Germany, Verbio North America plans to build, own, operate and finance biofuel facilities across the U.S. and Canada. Its facility in Nevada, Iowa, is the first industrial scale RNG facility in North America using agricultural residues as feedstock.

IRFA represents the state’s liquid renewable fuels industry and works to foster its growth. Iowa is the nation’s leader in renewable fuels production with 42 ethanol refineries capable of producing 4.5 billion gallons annually—including 34 million gallons of annual cellulosic ethanol production capacity—and 11 biodiesel facilities with the capacity to produce 410 million gallons annually.