Happy National Biodiesel Day!

Rudolf Diesel

J.T. Schokker (Jefferson City Oil) and NBB’s Jenna Higgins and Tom Verry in Washington, D.C. on the first National Biodiesel Day in 2002.

March 18, 2007 - We hope St. Patrick’s Day didn’t take all of your energy, because today is National Biodiesel Day!  National Biodiesel Day takes place on March 18, the date of Rudolf Diesel’s birthday.  The biodiesel industry chose his birthday to honor him for his foresight in recognizing the valuable role of vegetable oil-based fuel.  In the late 19th Century, Diesel ran early versions of his engine on peanut oil and paved the path for today’s biodiesel. 

In 1912, he said “the use of vegetable oils for engine fuels may seem insignificant today, but such oils may become, in the course of time, as important as petroleum and the coal tar products of the present time.”  Those words have taken on added significance at a time when the biodiesel industry is experiencing record growth and public awareness of the alternative fuel is steadily increasing. 

Recent market research conducted for the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) found that awareness among consumers increased from 27 percent familiarity in 2004 to 45 percent in 2007.  

Other indications of the potential for biodiesel are revealed by the following:

• 62% of U.S. consumers are willing to pay more per gallon for biodiesel than regular fuel, with most consumers willing to pay 1 to 10 cents more.

• More than four-in-five consumers continue to support a tax incentive that would make biodiesel cost approximately the same as regular diesel.

• While only 3% of consumers surveyed own a diesel vehicle today, 61% say they would consider buying a diesel car because of the benefits of biodiesel.

In 2007, biodiesel production reached 225 million gallons – nearly three times the 75 million gallons produced just one year earlier.  There are 105 plants operating today, each one adding sorely needed fuel refining capacity in America.    

The first National Biodiesel Day, registered by NBB, took place in 2002.