Growth Energy

Growth Energy
Name	Growth Energy
Formation	2008
Type	Trade association
Headquarters	United States
Region served	United States
Leader title	CEO
Leader name	Emily Skor
Focus	Ethanol, Renewable Fuels, Biofuels Policy

Growth Energy

Growth Energy is an American trade association representing producers and supporters of ethanol and renewable fuels. The organization engages in policy advocacy, market development, research coordination, and industry outreach to expand demand for biofuels such as ethanol and higher‑blend gasoline alternatives. It operates at the intersection of agricultural production, energy markets, environmental regulation, and federal transportation and energy policy.

History

Formed in 2008, Growth Energy emerged amid debates following the 2007–2008 energy price fluctuations and the expansion of the Renewable Fuel Standard under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Early activity linked the group to efforts that involved stakeholders from the American Coalition for Ethanol, National Corn Growers Association, Renewable Fuels Association, and regional ethanol producer associations in the Midwest United States. Growth Energy quickly became prominent during the 2008 United States presidential election cycle and subsequent 2009 United States congressional hearings on biofuels, advocating for market access for ethanol blends in California Air Resources Board regulatory discussions and in rulemakings by the Environmental Protection Agency. Leadership transitions included executives with prior experience at industry groups and federal policy apparatuses, positioning the organization to work with administrations across the Barack Obama and Donald Trump presidencies on implementation of the Environmental Protection Agency's Renewable Fuel Standard mandates.

Mission and Programs

Growth Energy states its mission to expand the role of ethanol and renewable fuels in the United States transportation sector by promoting market access, regulatory certainty, and consumer awareness. Programs have included national marketing campaigns tied to the E10 and E15 motor fuel blends, partnerships with automaker service networks including dealings that intersect with General Motors and Ford Motor Company statements on fuel warranties, and outreach to state agencies including the California Air Resources Board and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The group has run public education initiatives contemporaneously with campaigns linked to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and engaged commodity partners such as the Iowa Corn Promotion Board and the Nebraska Corn Board to coordinate state and federal messaging. Growth Energy also operates consumer resources, retail station grants, and promotional programs that intersect with private retailers and wholesalers in the petroleum distribution system.

Policy and Advocacy

Advocacy work centers on defending and expanding statutory and regulatory frameworks such as the Renewable Fuel Standard and on influencing rulemakings at the Environmental Protection Agency. Growth Energy has submitted comments during EPA rulemaking on waived blending requirements, petitioner filings concerning Small Refinery Exemptions, and litigation support in cases filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. The organization lobbies Congress on appropriations and authorizations affecting the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Transportation, and tax provisions related to biofuel credits. It also engages with international trade disputes involving the World Trade Organization and with bilateral trade negotiations affecting ethanol tariffs and non‑tariff measures in markets such as Brazil, Canada, and the European Union.

Research and Industry Initiatives

Growth Energy coordinates and funds research programs on fuel performance, emissions, and infrastructure compatibility, often partnering with academic institutions like Iowa State University, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, and federal laboratories including the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Research topics have included engine testing for E15 compatibility, greenhouse gas lifecycle analyses tied to United States Environmental Protection Agency modeling, and studies of ethanol distribution logistics related to the Jones Act implications for maritime transport of denatured ethanol. The association also supports initiatives in cellulosic ethanol development that connect to projects funded under the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy and collaborates with technology developers in demonstrations linked to biorefinery conversions and co‑product utilization such as dried distillers grains.

Membership and Governance

Members comprise ethanol producers, agribusiness companies, fuel retailers, and allied service providers drawn largely from Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, Illinois, and other Midwestern states. Governance is led by a board of directors and executive officers; executive leadership has included figures with previous affiliations to national trade groups and federal agencies. Corporate members range from independent regional producers to larger firms with ties to multinational agribusinesses and energy companies, and the organization coordinates with commodity boards such as the Iowa Corn Promotion Board and regional ethanol councils on market development projects and state lobbying efforts.

Criticism and Controversies

Growth Energy has been a central actor in contentious debates over biofuel policy. Critics include environmental groups like the Natural Resources Defense Council and Environmental Working Group, which have contested lifecycle greenhouse gas estimates and land‑use change impacts associated with corn ethanol. Agricultural and refining stakeholders, including the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers and some farm organizations, have clashed with Growth Energy over Small Refinery Exemptions and the interpretation of Renewable Identification Number markets. Legal challenges involving the Environmental Protection Agency's implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard and high‑profile disputes over E15 sales restrictions in states such as California and Washington (state) have generated litigation and regulatory scrutiny. Additionally, trade partners and international NGOs have raised concerns during World Trade Organization consultations about subsidies, tariffs, and market access related to U.S. ethanol exports.

Category:Energy trade associations of the United States