RFA Committees include:

• Technical Committee
• Environment Committee
• Cellulose Committee
• Membership Committee
• Co-Products Committee
• Plant & Employee Safety Committee

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The RFA Technical Committee provides sound technical industry data regarding the production, blending, distribution, and performance of ethanol fuels. The Committee develops industry standards in coordination with the American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM). Committee publications include:

• Gasoline Ethanol Blends Program Operations Guide
  (available to producer members only)
• Fuel Ethanol: Industry Guidelines, Specifications and Procedures
  RFA_IndustryGuidelines.pdf
• Guidelines for Establishing Ethanol Plant Quality Assurance and Quality Control Programs
  RFA_QAQCProcedures.pdf

Within the Technical Committee, the RFA operates a Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Task Force that seeks to promote the advantages of renewable ethanol as a fuel source for fuel cells. Fuel cells offer significant promise in reducing fossil fuel use and increasing energy efficiency. The Task Force seeks to advance ethanol fuel cell applications in both transportation and stationary power. The RFA is an active member of the U.S. Fuel Cell Council and National Hydrogen Association.

In 2002, the RFA released a paper, "Ethanol & Fuel Cells: Converging Paths of Opportunity," which presents a vision of how ethanol and fuel cells can be combined to create significant synergy, reaching markets and bringing benefits that are not achievable with any other fuel or with any other power technology. The paper outlines these benefits and presents a roadmap for how these synergies can be developed in an effective and stepwise fashion through contributions from the ethanol, fuel cell, automotive, and utility industries along with support from state and federal governments. Click here to view the paper. back to top

The RFA Environment Committee reviews and analyzes the increasingly complex environmental issues that affect the ethanol industry.  The Committee provides policy guidance to the Board and staff when appropriate.  The Committee will play an important role in familiarizing many of the new producers with the environmental regulations relevant to the ethanol industry. back to top

The RFA Cellulose Committee provides policy direction and technical assistance on issues related to the commercialization of ethanol derived from cellulose.  To achieve ethanol production levels beyond 15-20 billion gallons per year, the development and commercialization of cellulose ethanol production is necessary.  Almost every ethanol producer represented by RFA is actively engaged in cellulose ethanol research and development, and commercialization. back to top

The RFA Membership Committee works to increase association membership to expand and strengthen RFA's representation of the U.S. ethanol industry. The Committee works to promote the benefits of membership to prospective members, and provides the Board of Directors with input on how to improve upon membership benefits. back to top

The Co-Products Committee was formed to pursue issues relevant to co-products such as distillers grains. The focus areas include research, education and regulations. Members are committed to taking a proactive facilitative role in providing sound industry data regarding the production, distribution, trade and performance of co-products. back to top

The Committee provides an opportunity for member companies to promote best safety practices for the ethanol industry.  The Safety Committee is focused on the continuous need for improvement in safety standards, with the utmost goal being the safety of ethanol industry employees, first responders and community neighbors. Hazardous material regulations and requirements are a common topic for discussion as well as security and transportation requirements. For more information, please visit our Plant Safety Information page.