Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association’s executive director, Brian Werner, moderated a panel on the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) benefits to the biofuels industry at the American Coalition for Ethanol’s (ACE) 2023 Conference in Minneapolis today.

The panel included Donna Funk, principal partner at Pinion, Mel Schwarz, director of legislative affairs at Eide Bailly LLP, and Bradley Pederson, partner at Christianson PLLP.

“Since its passage one year ago, the IRA has dominated conversation in the ethanol industry. It’s not hyperbole to say that its provisions establishing clean fuel credits and biofuel infrastructure funding make it the most important legislation enacted for biofuels since the Renewable Fuel Standard was amended in 2007,” Werner said.

The panel covered IRA implementation guidance from the Treasury, the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program and clean fuel tax credits.  

On clean fuel tax credits, some of the issues addressed included extending the credits beyond Dec 31, 2027, potential discount rates on monetizing the credits, ways for ethanol plants to lower their CI score.

ACE’s 2023 Conference in Minneapolis began on Aug 23 and ends on Aug 25.