REG's Chad Stone also to be named IBB chair at Annual Meeting
ANKENY, Iowa - Iowa biodiesel business leaders and farmers will present Governor Terry Branstad with the "Biodiesel Champion" award tomorrow, during the Annual Meeting of the Iowa Biodiesel Board.
"Governor Branstad has shown steadfast support for state biodiesel programs and incentives, helping Iowa secure its position as the top biodiesel-producing state," said Grant Kimberley, executive director of the Iowa Biodiesel Board. "He also shows bold national leadership in making an outspoken, compelling case for expanding biodiesel under the federal Renewable Fuels Standard."
Branstad serves as vice chair of the Governors' Biofuels Coalition. In December, he was the only governor to testify at an Environmental Protection Agency hearing on the RFS.
"I want to thank the Iowa Biodiesel Board for the honor of being named a 'Biodiesel Champion,'" said Branstad. "Iowa's robust renewable fuel sector is a critical component of Iowa's strong economic position. I've long been a strong supporter of renewable fuels like biodiesel, and will continue promoting innovation within this growing industry."
Also at the meeting, Chad Stone, chief financial officer of Renewable Energy Group, Inc., will become the new chair of the Iowa Biodiesel Board. He replaces biodiesel producer and petroleum distributor Mark Cobb.
"I am grateful for this opportunity to lead the Iowa Biodiesel Board and excited to continue the outstanding advocacy efforts of Mark Cobb, our board members and staff," said Stone. "IBB has, and will continue to play an instrumental role in promoting the economic, energy security and environmental benefits that biodiesel provides to Iowa and America."
Biodiesel is made from a diverse mix of resources. These include recycled cooking oil, soybean oil and animal fats. It is the first EPA-designated Advanced Biofuel to reach commercial-scale production nationwide. In 2013, Iowa's 12 biodiesel plants produced about 230 million gallons of biodiesel. This supports more than 7,000 jobs throughout the value chain.
The Iowa Biodiesel Board is a state trade association representing the biodiesel industry.
