ANKENY — Two Iowans will keep the top leadership posts in guiding the national growth of biodiesel fuel.

Members of the National Biodiesel Board have re-elected Gary Haer of Ames, Iowa-based Renewable Energy Group as chair. Ed Ulch, a farmer from Solon representing the Iowa Soybean Association, will maintain his position as vice chair.

The election was held during the NBB’s membership meeting Wednesday in St. Louis.

“The next year promises to be another challenging one, with pivotal decisions made to secure biodiesel’s ability to contribute to the domestic fuel supply long-term,”  Haer said in a statement. “I’m honored to lead the industry as we pursue our vision of displacing more foreign oil with cleaner burning, domestically produced biodiesel.”

Ron Marr of Waukee, also a member of the NBB governing board, was re-elected secretary. He represents Minnesota Soybean Processors.

In 2013, the industry is expected to produce about 1.28 billion gallons of biodiesel. The Obama Administration recently increased biodiesel volumes under the federal Renewable Fuel Standard-2 from 1 billion gallons to 1.28 billion gallons.

“Our state is a national hub of renewable energy, and we have only scratched the surface of what we are capable of,” said Randy Olson, executive director of the Iowa Biodiesel Board.

The National Biodiesel Board is made up of 15 governing board members, including four executive officers. The Iowa Biodiesel Board is a state trade association representing the biodiesel industry.