Renewable Fuels Association

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) represents the ethanol industry promoting policies, regulations, and research and development initiatives that will lead to the increased production and use of ethanol fuel. First organized in 1981, RFA serves as a voice of advocacy for the ethanol industry, providing research data and industry analysis to its members, to the public via the media, to the United States Congress, as well as to related federal and state agencies.

RFA's chairman is Neill McKinstray of the agribusiness company The Andersons, Inc. and the vice-chairman is Randall Doyal, the CEO of Al-Corn Clean Fuel, an ethanol production cooperative in Claremont, MN. The RFA has offices in both Washington, the District of Columbia and St. Louis, Missouri.

Bob Dinneen serves as RFA's president and CEO. In this position, Dinneen serves as the lead lobbyist and spokesman for the ethanol industry. Dinneen was named one of the "Top Lobbyists" for 2015 and many other years by The Hill. Dinneen regularly testifies before Congress and administrative agencies. He represents the industry at major domestic and foreign forums and conferences. Dinneen started working at the RFA in 1988. He became president of the organization in 2001. Dinneen also serves on the Department of Energy-Department of Agriculture Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee. Dinneen is a frequent guest and commentator for numerous media outlets. He graduated from the Catholic University of America.

Western Plains Energy became a member of the RFA in 2016. The firm was founded in 2001 and is based in Oakley, Kansas.

The RFA argues that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) abused its waiver authority by setting RVOs lower than the statutory minimums. They say Congress clearly intended for the law to apply according to supply that could be available rather than demand. They contend that the EPA has conflated the two. Under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA), the statutory standard for 2017 is 24 billion gallons. The EPA only set an RVO of 18.8 billion gallons of biofuel for 2017. This was up from 18.4 billion gallons in 2016. Ethanol supporters and oil companies alike criticized this target.

The RFA considers employment in the ethanol industry to be a primary example of "green jobs." The 2010 US Ethanol Industry Salary Survey determined that employees about 500,000 people with 75% of such workers making more than $50,000 per year and 99% receiving health benefits. The RFA points out that these jobs, heavily concentrated in rural areas, provide a much-needed economic boost to otherwise depressed places.

As of December 2014^[update], almost half of new vehicles produced by Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors are flex-fuel, meaning roughly one-quarter of all new vehicles sold by 2015 are capable of using up to E85. However, obstacles to widespread use of E85 fuel remain. A 2014 analysis by the Renewable Fuels Association found that oil companies prevent or discourage affiliated retailers from selling E85 through rigid franchise and branding agreements, restrictive supply contracts, and other tactics. The report showed independent retailers are five times more likely to offer E85 than retailers carrying an oil company brand.

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