NBB Praises Introduction of Biodiesel Promotion and Quality Assurance Act
House bill dedicates a portion of nation’s diesel pool to biodiesel

Washington, D.C.– The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) applauded bipartisan legislation introduced today by U.S. Representatives Baron Hill (D-IN), John Shimkus (R-IL), Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), Kenny Hulshof (R-MO), Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin (D-SD) and Sam Graves (R-MO) to create a stable domestic market for biodiesel.

The Biodiesel Promotion and Quality Assurance Act of 2007 would dedicate a small portion of the nation's 60 billion-gallon diesel pool to biodiesel and other biobased replacement diesel fuels. The legislation offers important recognition of biodiesel's contribution as a blend component to diesel fuel. The legislation creates a minimum usage requirement for biodiesel and "biobased replacement diesel" that increases from 450 million gallon in 2008 to 1.25 billion gallons in 2012.

"It is critical that we move America away from foreign fuels and become energy independent," said Representative Hill. "Biodiesel and other biobased diesel replacements offer a domestic fuel source that can be used right now to displace foreign oil. It is important for our country to move forward in an economically and environmentally responsible way, and this legislation does just that."

"This legislation is good for America's energy security, economic growth and the environment because it would set a floor for biodiesel demand," said Joe Jobe, NBB CEO. "The young U.S. biodiesel industry can do more to expand America's domestic refining capacity if this legislation is enacted. The biodiesel industry looks forward to working with Congress to pass a renewable requirement in the nation's diesel pool as part of any effort to expand the Renewable Fuels Standard."

Biodiesel is an environmentally safe fuel, and rises to the top of transportation fuels when weighing carbon footprint, life cycle greenhouse gas emissions and energy balance. The United States uses more than 60 billion gallons of diesel fuel each year in trucks, barges, rail engines, and off-road vehicles to transport people and goods. In 2006, 250 million gallons of biodiesel were sold, less than ½ of 1 percent of the diesel pool. Although not used to its full potential, biodiesel still reduced lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by more than 4 billion pounds, which is equal to removing 350,000 passenger vehicles from America's roadways.

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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