URBANDALE, Iowa - Governor Culver’s office has appointed Cindi Grover from Elma, Iowa, to the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Board (RFIB).  The board’s mission is to oversee the renewable fuel infrastructure program for retail motor fuel sites and biodiesel terminal facilities.   She will be replacing Yvonne Wente who recently stepped down from the board.  Grover is on the Iowa Soybean Association’s (ISA) board of directors and will work as a liaison between ISA and the RFIB.

According to Dick Vegors of the Iowa Department of Economic Development and Program Coordinator for RFIB, Grover will be an excellent replacement for Wente.

“I hated to see Yvonne go,” says Vegors. “She went above and beyond what she needed to do for ISA and RFIB, and I know we’ll get that from Cindi, too.”

Iowa is currently the largest biodiesel and ethanol producing state in the country. The Iowa Biodiesel Board reports Iowa has 14 biodiesel plants capable of producing approximately 318 million gallons, with two more under construction with the combined production capacity of 35 million gallons. According to the Iowa Renewable Fuels Board, Iowa is also home to 28 ethanol plants producing a collective 2.1 billion gallons a year.

RFIB is made up of three components.  The primary component is retail motor fuel sites for E85 or biodiesel, which exists to increase fuel sites by installing, replacing or converting fuel dispensing and storage infrastructure. The second component is biodiesel terminal facilities, which is a program for terminal facilities that store and dispense biodiesel or biodiesel blended fuel. The last component is the farm delivery of biodiesel blends and/or E85 through bulk trucks known as tank wagons.

Grover’s duties will include reviewing and approving applications for terminals and dispensers for retailers and distributors throughout the state.  While she serves on the board, she also hopes to educate people about renewable fuels.

“I plan to use the knowledge I learn on this board and put it to great use by educating others about the renewable fuels industry, and be available upon request if there are questions to be answered,” says Grover.

Other current board members include Jeff Hove (Chair), regulatory affairs manager for Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Stores of Iowa; Al Hillgren (Vice Chair), general manager of Seneca Companies; Diane Dennler of Iowa Renewable Fuels Association; Kenneth Pangburn of Iowa Farm Bureau Federation; Jill Reams-Widder, environmental consultant for Casey’s General Store;, Eric Seuren, representing the petroleum industry; Keith Sexton of Iowa Corn Growers Association; Sandy Simpson of Agribusiness Association of Iowa; and Brian Wiegert, senior underwriter for Rounds & Associates. The representative for the Iowa Motor Truck Association has yet to be named.

To learn more about ISA and biodiesel, visit www.iasoybeans.com and   www.soybiodiesel.com.