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Iowa biodiesel producer says future is uncertain

The general manager of an Iowa biodiesel plant says if current conditions continue, it will be tough for them to continue operating in 2020.

Brad Wilson with Western Iowa Energy of Wall Lake testifying at yesterday’s EPA biofuels hearing in Michigan, said the plant has been losing, on average, over 30 cents per gallon in 2019.

“After almost two years of the same issues, we have definitely watched our strong balance sheet weaken—to the point of there being absolutely no way we could hold on for another year operating in this environment,” he said.

Wilson, who also chairs the Iowa Biodiesel Board, says the plant has run at only 66 percent of its capacity in 2019. He urged the EPA to fix its proposed rule to accurately account for RFS small refinery exemptions.