Secretary Naig Presents Renewable Fuels Marketing Awards: Diamond Oil Company Receives Biodiesel Award and Ethanol Award Goes to Elliott Oil Company

(FuelIowa) Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig presented Elliott Oil Company of Ottumwa and Diamond Oil Company of Des Moines with the 2020 Renewable Fuels Marketing Awards today at the FUELIowa Annual Meeting in Des Moines.

The Ethanol and Biodiesel Marketing Awards were created by FUELIowa in partnership with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to recognize fuel marketers that have gone above and beyond in their efforts to promote and sell renewable fuels.

"Renewable fuels are a win for our consumers, farmers and marketers within the state of Iowa. The promotion and advocacy that Diamond Oil Company and Elliott Oil Company have and continue to do for the renewable fuels industry has strengthened our state," said Secretary Naig. "They are both deserving of this award in Ethanol and Biodiesel, respectively."

Elliott Oil Company is the recipient of the Secretary of Agriculture's 2020 Ethanol Marketing Award. The Ottumwa-based company has been a leader in the marketing and sales of renewable fuels in the state of Iowa for decades. Founded in 1961, Elliott Oil operates retail motor fuel locations under the BP brand and currently has five locations offering E85. In recent years, the company has leveraged the Iowa Renewable Fuel Infrastructure Program and has increased significant private investments into their retail locations to accommodate the sale of high blend ethanol products.

Over the past year, Elliott Oil has worked closely with BP brand representatives to build awareness about the growing interest among retailers and consumers toward E15 in Iowa. Traditionally, larger brands have been hesitant to adopt E15 at their branded locations. Through proactive efforts, Elliott Oil has reached an agreement with BP to allow for the sale of E15 under the BP brand canopy at their location in Osceola.

With Iowa already positioned as the nation's leader in renewable fuels, the efforts of Elliott Oil will only serve to further separate Iowa from the rest of the nation, while potentially opening more discussions between branded retailers and their brand representatives about incorporating E15 into their product slate.

Diamond Oil Company is the recipient of the Secretary of Agriculture's 2020 Biodiesel Marketing Award. Headquartered in Des Moines, Diamond Oil has made a commitment to supplying biodiesel to its diverse customer base. They supply and market biodiesel through traditional brick and mortar retail outlets, and their biodiesel footprints extend into high-volume end-users in the agriculture, residential, industrial, racing and transportation arenas.

The company has been serving customers since 1978. As their education and marketing efforts have expanded their biodiesel sales, Diamond Oil has leveraged the Iowa Renewable Fuel Infrastructure Grant Program to support their significant private investments into expanding their infrastructure to support the growing demand from their customers for biodiesel, including the installation of biodiesel terminals in Des Moines and State Center.

Through their biodiesel terminal infrastructure at their bulk storage facilities, Diamond Oil has the ability to provide custom blending options tailored for the preference of each customer. With their infrastructure Diamond Oil can easily provide B20 through B98, depending on the customer's request.

"It is an honored to partner with Iowa's Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig to acknowledge the important role fuel marketers play in advancing sales of homegrown biofuels," said FUELIowa President and CEO Dawn Carlson. " FUELIowa applauds today's winners and all Iowa marketers for serving as the conduit to deliver Iowans innovative quality fuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, produced here in Iowa."

Iowa leads the nation in the production of ethanol and biodiesel. Iowa has 43 ethanol refineries capable of producing more than 4.1 billion gallons annually. In addition, Iowa has 12 biodiesel facilities with the capacity to produce nearly 350 million gallons annually.

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program offers cost-share grants for the installation of E85 dispensers, blender pumps, biodiesel dispensers and biodiesel storage facilities. To date, the program has distributed or obligated over $33 million with $200 million added in private economic activity. The grant program is managed by Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, learn more at https://iowaagriculture.gov/agricultural-diversification-market-development-bureau/iowa-renewable-fuels-infrastructure-program.

FUELIowa is the state trade association representing fuel marketers. Its members provide quality fuels to consumers, farmers, government and businesses statewide. For more information about FUELIowa, visit www.FUELIowa.com. READ MORE