NBB Praises Senate Passage of Energy Bill with Expanded Renewable Fuels Standard
Senate Bill Supports Biodiesel to Diversify America’s Diesel Fuel Pool

WASHINGTON, D.C.– The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) today applauded Senate passage of H.R. 6, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Among its many provisions, the legislation expands the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) in a manner that will significantly increase the use of biodiesel in the United States. The Senate passed H.R. 6 by an 86-to-8 margin.

The expanded RFS requires a specific renewable requirement for diesel fuel that will be met by biodiesel and other renewable biomass-based diesel fuels. Increasing the minimum renewable requirement in the diesel pool from 500 million gallons in 2009 to 1 billion gallons in 2012 will create a stable, viable domestic market for biodiesel. In addition, the fuel labeling requirements in the bill will promote consumer confidence in renewable fuels and help ensure that only quality fuels are entered into commerce.

“Passage of H.R. 6 is a significant achievement that will reduce our dependence on foreign oil and increase the use of clean-burning, domestically produced biodiesel,” said NBB CEO Joe Jobe. “The biodiesel industry stands ready to meet the aggressive renewable goals provided for in this bill.”

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 percent. 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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