Today, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed House File 2128, which is more commonly known as the Biofuels Access bill. The bill was passed by the Iowa Legislature with overwhelming bipartisan support earlier this session. It will encourage the sale of higher blends of biodiesel through an incentive-based approach and make E15 ethanol more available statewide. It will also update infrastructure cost-share opportunities for retailers to improve access to higher blends of biofuels.
Before she signed it, Governor Reynolds delivered a few comments on the magnitude of this bill. She opened up by thanking Will and Cassie Cannon and Gordon Wassenaar for hosting the event at their farm.
The Biofuels Access bill has been in the works for well over a year. Governor Reynolds said the final bill is a great example of the power of good-faith discussions and compromises.
Biofuels are a large part of Iowa?s economy, and as a leader in the global biofuel industry, the decisions made by the state will affect the decisions of other biofuel leaders. Reynolds said that this bill, which makes Iowa the first U.S. state to adopt an E15 standard, is the single largest expansion of biofuels in our state?s history.
While President Biden?s temporary waiver is appreciated, there?s still one issue with it: it?s temporary. Reynolds said she?s aiming to finish the job by making a formal request for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to allow states to sell E15 year-round without restrictions.
The full text of the bill can be found here.
