Committees

RFA Committees include:

Technical 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

Environment Committee

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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.

Cellulose Committee

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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.

Co-Products Committee

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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.

Plant & Employee Safety Committee

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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.

Tax Policy Working Group

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The Tax Policy Working Group was formed in an effort to identify and evaluate ethanol tax incentive proposals as well as formulate an industry-wide tax policy strategy that will encourage the continued expansion of the ethanol industry. The group is helping the nation's ethanol producers make informed and effective policy recommendations to congressional and administrative policy makers as they address the scheduled expiration of the industry's main ethanol incentive, the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit, in December 2010. The group consists of a broad cross-section of the ethanol industry, including first and second generation ethanol producers, and large, small and farmer cooperative producers.