Iowa ethanol industry concerned about competitiveness gap with those using CCUS
In Iowa, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) and Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) have submitted written comments to the Iowa Utilities Commission (IUC), highlighting the widening competitive gap between ethanol producers with access to Carbon Capture, Use, and Sequestration (CCUS) technology, such as Summit Carbon Solutions’ CO2 pipeline, and those without it.
In particular, the comments noted that Iowa’s farm economy has seen dramatic increases in bankruptcies at the same time as falling farm income in recent years. A 2026 study commissioned by both groups concluded that this trend could be reversed by “enabling new demand opportunities to be realized…through ultra-low-carbon ethanol, farmers could get their returns from the market.”
The letter outlined hundreds of millions of gallons of new ethanol projects coming online across the Midwest from producers utilizing CCUS technology. Major ethanol expansions continue to pass by Iowa as producers invest capital in states with the competitive advantages provided by CCUS access.
Category: Fuels
