Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signs biofuel bill into law

May 18, 2022

The bill requires gas stations to sell fuel with at least 15 percent ethanol

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

A piece of legislation designed to ease gas prices and support producers is now law in Iowa.

Gov. Kim Reynolds signed HF2128, the Biofuels Bill, into law on May 17 while visiting a farm near Prairie City.

“I’ve never been prouder than I am today to be the Governor of the number one ethanol and biodiesel-producing state in the country,” she said in a statement. “Iowa’s biofuel production powers our economy and fuels the world, and this historic bill sets the stage for the single largest expansion of biofuels in our state’s history. We’re sending a message that we can’t be ignored: America’s energy is growing right here in Iowa’s fields.”

The bill sets out standards for fuel retailers who must offer E15 to customers, beginning in 2026.

If the gas station has more than one pump, for example, half of the pumps at the gas station must have E15.

The bill also includes incentives for stations selling B-20 biodiesel.

Gas stations selling fewer than 300,000 gallons of gasoline per year or have older equipment can apply for waivers from the legislation.

Reynolds signing the bill received support from the ag industry and renewable fuels sector.

The national average price of gas on May 18 in the U.S. is $4.56 per gallon, the American Automobile Association said. In Iowa the average price is $4.12.

Governor Reynolds signing this bill into law will help bring fuel prices down, said Monte Shaw, executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association.

“At a time of record-breaking fuel prices, the Governor’s Biofuels Access bill will provide relief for consumers and long-term markets for farmers. It is not exaggerating to say that the Iowa Biofuels Access bill is the most important piece of biofuels legislation ever enacted in Iowa,” he said in a statement.

The Iowa Corn Growers Association also support the bill.

“It expands the availability of E15 to consumers, saving them an average of 10 cents per gallon, and creates additional markets for Iowa corn farmers. It’s a win-win for Iowa,” said Lance Lillibridge, a farmer and president of the ICGA.”

Only about 17 percent of Iowa gas stations provide customers with E15.

The Iowa Department of Revenue identified 2,580 retail locations in 2020, meaning only about 438 offered E15.

This new bill will help bring that number closer to 70 percent of fuel stations (1,806) by 2024.

Video: From Conventional to Regenerative: Will Groeneveld’s Journey Back to the Land

"You realize you've got a pretty finite number of years to do this. If you ever want to try something new, you better do it."

That mindset helped Will Groeneveld take a bold turn on his Alberta grain farm. A lifelong farmer, Will had never heard of regenerative agriculture until 2018, when he attended a seminar by Kevin Elmy that shifted his worldview. What began as curiosity quickly turned into a deep exploration of how biology—not just chemistry—shapes the health of our soils, crops and ecosystems.

In this video, Will candidly reflects on his family’s farming history, how the operation evolved from a traditional mixed farm to grain-only, and how the desire to improve the land pushed him to invite livestock back into the rotation—without owning a single cow.

Today, through creative partnerships and a commitment to the five principles of regenerative agriculture, Will is reintroducing diversity, building soil health and extending living roots in the ground for as much of the year as possible. Whether it’s through intercropping, zero tillage (which he’s practiced since the 1980s) or managing forage for visiting cattle, Will’s approach is a testament to continuous learning and a willingness to challenge old norms.

Will is a participant in the Regenerative Agriculture Lab (RAL), a social innovation process bringing together producers, researchers, retailers and others to co-create a resilient regenerative agriculture system in Alberta. His story highlights both the potential and humility required to farm with nature, not against it.