NBB Joins House Ag Committee in Rally for Renewable Fuels Standard
House Proposal Would Diversify America’s Diesel Fuel Pool

WASHINGTON, D.C.– The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) today joined House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN), Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD) in a show of support for efforts in Congress to expand the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS).

The Energy Bill scheduled for consideration in the U.S. House contains a provision to use clean-burning, domestically produced renewable fuels to promote energy independence by expanding the existing RFS to 36 billion gallons by 2022. The proposal would also provide for a renewable requirement in diesel fuel. It would be met by biodiesel and other biomass-based diesel fuels. The legislation specifically requires that 500 million gallons of biodiesel and biomass-based diesel fuel be blended into the diesel pool in 2009, gradually ramping up to one billion gallons by 2012.

"This legislation recognizes, for the first time, the importance of ensuring that at least a portion of our nation's diesel fuel needs are met through renewable, domestically produced fuels," said Joe Jobe, CEO of the NBB, who spoke at the Washington event. "This will truly help diversify our nation's fuel supply by setting a floor for usage of biodiesel and other biomass-based diesel products. We commend Congress for making a strong commitment to energy security."

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. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's lifecycle study, B100 biodiesel reduces lifecycle carbon emissions by 78%. In 2006 alone, biodiesel's contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions was the equivalent of removing 350,000 passenger vehicles from America's roadways. Biodiesel is also an efficient fuel, as it creates 3.2 units of energy for each unit of energy consumed in the production of the fuel.

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. Its 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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