Secretary Naig Presents 2021 Renewable Fuels Marketing Awards to Reif Oil Company and Sapp Bros., Inc.
DES MOINES, Iowa (Feb. 2, 2021) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced that the winners of the 2021 Renewable Fuels Marketing Awards are Reif Oil Company from Burlington, Iowa, and Sapp Bros., Inc., from Omaha, Nebraska.
“I’m pleased to present the renewable fuels marketing awards to Reif Oil Company and Sapp Bros., Inc. for their efforts to add more ethanol and biodiesel pumps at convenience stores and travel centers across the state,” said Secretary Naig. “When fuel retailers invest in renewable fuels infrastructure, drivers gain access to more affordable, cleaner-burning fuels at the pump.”
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship launched the Secretary’s Ethanol and Biodiesel Marketing Awards to recognize fuel marketers that have gone above and beyond to build demand and raise awareness of the benefits of renewable fuels.
Secretary’s Ethanol Marketing Award – Reif Oil Company, Burlington, Iowa
Reif Oil Company is a family-owned and -operated small business that was founded in 1978. It sells and distributes fuel across the Midwest, including Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin. It also operates eight wholly-owned Fast Break convenience stores.
Reif Oil Company began expanding their fuel product portfolio to include high-blend ethanol products with the installation of their first E85 dispenser in 1999. Following significant capital investments to their retail infrastructure over the last several years, they now offer E85 at approximately 14 fueling positions and E15 at approximately 75 fueling positions across their company portfolio.
Reif Oil Company has participated in the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program and was awarded $650,000 through the USDA Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program.
Reif Oil Company is an advocate for renewable fuels and helped Phillips 66 and Shell Oil embrace E15 as a standard fuel. By working collaboratively with brand partners to incorporate E15 into their product offerings, Reif Oil Company is helping expand consumer access to E15 locally. The company is also creating a roadmap for branded fuel marketers across the nation to begin offering E15.
Reif Oil Company was nominated by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, the Iowa Corn Growers Association and FUELIowa.
Secretary’s Biodiesel Marketing Award – Sapp Bros., Inc, Omaha, Nebraska
Sapp Bros., Inc. owns 17 full-service travel centers primarily located on Interstate-80 stretching from Utah to Pennsylvania.
Sapp Bros., Inc. began investing in biodiesel in 2005. In 2011, the company started making significant infrastructure investments in biodiesel terminals throughout western Iowa. These investments have grown the company’s blended biodiesel fuel sales to 36 million gallons annually in Iowa.
Sapp Bros., Inc.’s commitment to marketing biodiesel has benefited Iowa’s biodiesel production facilities and the surrounding communities. It has also created additional markets for farmers to sell their feedstocks.
Sapp Bros., Inc. was nominated by FUELIowa and RINAlliance.
Iowa Renewable Fuels Industry
Iowa leads the nation in the production of ethanol and biodiesel. Iowa has 42 ethanol refineries capable of producing more than 4.5 billion gallons annually. In addition, Iowa has 11 biodiesel facilities with the capacity to produce over 400 million gallons annually.
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program offers cost-share grants to help fuel retailers install E85 dispensers, blender pumps, biodiesel dispensers and biodiesel storage facilities. To date, the program has distributed or obligated over $38.2 million with $220 million added in private economic activity. The grant program is managed by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Learn more on the Department’s website.