New Companies Join the Elite in Biodiesel Quality Assurance
Biodiesel Customers Continue to Demand the BQ-9000 Seal of Approval

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Three more biodiesel companies have achieved the highest level of industry-recognized quality assurance, a sign that quality remains a top commitment among the nation's biodiesel producers. The National Biodiesel Accreditation Commission this week recognized Louis Dreyfus (Claypool, Ind.) and Blackhawk Biofuels (Danville, Ill.) as the nation's newest BQ-9000 biodiesel producers. In addition West Coast Reduction (Vancouver, BC) earned BQ-9000 Marketer status.

Gary Haer, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Blackhawk Biofuels' parent company, REG Inc., said large fleets and fuel distributors are writing BQ-9000 into fuel purchasing requirements.

"There's no question that today the petroleum industry is demanding biodiesel from BQ-9000 Producers," Haer said. "This BQ-9000 Producer status is the ultimate reward for the staff who operate this facility and the technology team who brought recent manufacturing upgrades to completion. Most importantly, we know that BQ-9000 accreditation means consistent, efficient production of high quality fuel to help meet the nation's renewable energy demands."

BQ-9000 is a voluntary fuel quality assurance program overseen by the NBAC and adopted by the National Biodiesel Board and the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association. BQ-9000 couples the foundations of universally accepted quality management systems with the product specification, ASTM D 6751, and has become the premier quality designation in the industry. The program covers storage, sampling, testing, blending, shipping, distribution and fuel management practices.

"We continue to see new companies strive to become certified as one of their first acts," said Leland Tong, chairman of NBAC. "It is an excellent sign that the newest members of the biodiesel industry immediately recognize the importance of delivering a high-quality product."

Other facilities that have been certified recently are Imperium Renewables (Grays Harbor, Wash.); Scott Petroleum (Greenville, Miss.); Wilson Fuel Co. (Halifax, Canada) and Direct Fuels (Euless, Texas).

There are currently 34 biodiesel production facilities certified as producers under the program and 17 certified as marketers.

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