NBB Supports Passage of House Farm Bill
Bioenergy Program, Biodiesel Education Program expanded in House bill

WASHINGTON, D.C.– The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) today expressed support for H.R. 2419, the Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007. In addition to reauthorizing federal farm programs that are vital to American agriculture, the legislation’s Energy Title included an expansion of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Bioenergy Program and the Biodiesel Education Program.

Under the CCC Bioenergy Program, the CCC would support production of biodiesel and other bio-based renewable fuels using domestic feedstocks. The program accomplishes this by providing farm payments to help U.S. biodiesel producers offset rising feedstock costs. For biodiesel producers, feedstock costs represent roughly 80% of overall production costs.

The reauthorization of the Biodiesel Education Program would increase funding from $5 million to $10 million over five years. Since its inception in 2003, the Biodiesel Education Program has played a critical role in improving consumer awareness and support of the fuel.

“The NBB believes these energy initiatives are critical in continuing to make biodiesel an important part of a diverse energy portfolio,” said Joe Jobe, NBB CEO. “As the bill moves forward, we will continue to work with our partners in Congress to ensure that necessary funding is provided for these programs, and that the Bioenergy Program is ultimately structured in a manner that will best help the U.S. biodiesel industry reduce America’s reliance on foreign oil.”

The biodiesel industry produced 250 million gallons in 2006, and is on track to produce 300 – 350 million gallons in 2007. There are 148 plants operating nationwide.

The NBB is the national trade association of the biodiesel industry and is the coordinating body for biodiesel research and development in the U.S. NBB’s membership is comprised of state, national, and international feedstock and feedstock processor organizations, biodiesel suppliers, fuel marketers and distributors, and technology providers.

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