DES MOINES, Iowa - There a movement in Iowa to produce hand sanitizer in the fight against COVID-19 coronavirus.
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association has thanked some energy companies for supplying ingredients to help a coronavirus fighting project endorsed by Governor Kim Reynolds. Reynolds said Iowa's ethanol industry is providing prison inmates with alcohol to make hand sanitizer for use in hospitals.
The Renewable Fuels Association credits Reynolds, along with Senators Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley for helping overcome regulations that could have prevented production.
Renewable Fuel Association Executive Director Monte Shaw noted that Iowa produces two of the key ingredients in hand sanitizer, saying "so of course we wanted to step up and help out if we could." The association singled out Absolute Energy and Western Iowa Energy for supplying the necessary ethanol and glycerin to help produce hand sanitizer.
Iowa is the country's top producer of ethanol.