(October 6, 2011) Washington – At its annual membership meeting held this week in Washington, DC, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) re-elected Chuck Woodside, CEO of KAAPA Ethanol in Minden, NE, as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the RFA. 

“America cannot afford to backslide on its investments in domestic ethanol production,” said Woodside.  “Whether it’s the nearly 14 billion gallons of ethanol production from grain today or the countless billions of gallons from a wide range of feedstocks in the future, a strong domestic ethanol industry will provide this country with unparalleled economic, environmental and energy security benefits for generations to come.”

Woodside continued, “America’s ethanol producers are answering the call by creating jobs, reducing oil imports, and cleaning our environment while others continuously tell us we can’t.  Instead of wringing our hands about the challenges associated with revolutionizing our energy supply, the members of the RFA are pushing forward with new initiatives that would reshape American energy tax policy, encourage the development of new ethanol technologies, and modernize our transportation fuel market by providing consumers with more choice in fuels, such as higher level ethanol blends, and vehicles that can utilize such choices. “

“I am honored to have the opportunity to help lead the RFA whose members have founded and shaped the ethanol industry we have today and paved the way to the industry of tomorrow.  This is a new era of American ethanol punctuated by technological innovation and market evolution and I am truly excited by the opportunities ahead.”

Joining Woodside in being re-elected as officers of the association are:

•             Vice Chairman Neill McKinstray, Vice President and General Manager,
               Ethanol Division of The Andersons, Inc.

•             Treasurer Randall J. Doyal, CEO of Al-Corn Clean Fuel in
              Claremont, Minnesota.

•             Secretary Walter Wendland, CEO of Golden Grain Energy in
              Mason City, Iowa.

•             President Bob Dinneen, Renewable Fuels Association, Washington, DC. 

The entire list of RFA membership can be seen here.  

Additionally, the RFA welcomed Bill Brady, CEO of next generation ethanol technology company Mascoma and Chairman of the Advanced Ethanol Council (AEC), to the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the RFA.  The AEC represents a wide range of advanced ethanol technologies utilizing feedstock from grasses and corn stalks to wood waste, municipal solid waste and algae to produce clean, renewable ethanol and works in partnership with RFA.

About the Renewable Fuels Association:   Since 1981, the Renewable Fuels Association has been the unparalleled voice of American ethanol in Washington and around the world. The RFA and its members have been at the center of every successful policy fight and market initiative that has meaningfully expanded ethanol production and use including multiple extensions of key tax incentives and the establishment of two Renewable Fuel Standards.  The RFA is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of one representative from each ethanol producing company.  All members of the Board get a vote in setting association policy.  The RFA represents more than 300 companies engaged in all aspects of the ethanol industry from technology development to production to marketing.  More on the RFA can be found at www.EthanolRFA.org.