Federal Policy Working as Intended, Driving Advanced Biofuel Production

The US EPA recently announced that 110 million gallons of biodiesel were produced in April - putting the biodiesel industry once again on track to meet or exceed the federal volume requirement this year under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The 110 million gallons of biodiesel production was roughly the same as in March, with year-to-date biodiesel production through the end of April at almost 369 million gallons. 

Biodiesel, an EPA-designated Advanced Biofuel that has exceeded targets under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for two consecutive years, is reported under the Biomass-based Diesel category under the RFS. Made from an increasingly diverse mix of resources such as recycled cooking oil, soybean oil and animal fats, biodiesel is the first and only EPA-designated Advanced Biofuel that's produced on a commercial scale across the U.S.

It is produced in nearly every state in the country and is used in existing diesel engines without modification. In 2012 the biodiesel industry produced more than 1 billion gallons, supporting some 50,000 jobs across the country.

The RFS is a federal program that requires transportation fuel sold in the US to contain a minimum volume of renewable fuels. The RFS originated with the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and was expanded and extended by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA). This year's volume requirement for Biomass-based Diesel under the RFS is 1.28 billion gallons.

Clean Cities Podcast Features Biodiesel Sustainability

A lively discussion on how biodiesel fits into a sustainable fuel supply took place in May during a Clean Cities podcast called "Breaking Our Oil Addiction - With Biodiesel." The episode featured Don Scott, Director of Sustainability for the National Biodiesel Board, and Russell Teall, the President of BIODICO, a company which develops and commercializes bioenergy system technology.

The weekly show focuses on breaking our oil addiction as an essential element of the economic, environmental and energy security of America.  The host interviews leaders from the alternative fuels industry and Program Coordinators for the U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Cities program. 

A topic of discussion during the biodiesel program was the value of liquid fuels as an effective way to store energy in a way that's easy to handle.  

"We recognize now that while liquid fuel is important, we need renewable ways to store energy in a liquid form that can harness solar energy from the sun, and recycle carbon," Scott said during the program.  "Diversity really is key to making our overall energy portfolio more sustainable, and reducing volatility in prices."    

Scott also discussed how biodiesel production is, in general, a very low energy intensity process.  

"We really are following the examples of nature with biodiesel," he said.  "Nature has figured out that fats and oils are a great way to store energy. Biodiesel harnesses that energy."  

Listen to the program here.

Biodiesel Industry Heads to DC for Education, Advocacy

Members of the National Biodiesel Board will be in Washington DC early this month for the group's annual June Membership Meeting. Federal programs like the Renewable Fuel Standard, the biodiesel blender's tax credit, and the Farm Bill are extremely important to the biodiesel industry. This membership meeting allows for members of the industry to get the most up-to-date information available on all of these programs.

A portion of the meeting time is devoted to Hill Visits where NBB members meet with their members of Congress to discuss the pending issues that affect their businesses. For members of Congress, face-to-face meetings with job creating constituents from their home states or districts are an extremely effective way to learn about important issues.

Also during the Membership Meeting, NBB will host a fundraiser meeting with Rep. Ed Whitfield (KY-01) Rep. Whitfield chairs the important House Energy and Commerce Committee which oversees the RFS2. Separately, a Political Action Committee fundraiser is being held to raise funds for the NBB PAC. Political giving remains an important piece of the federal policy puzzle. 

NBB is the national trade association representing America's first Advanced Biofuel. The group works to create sustainable biodiesel industry growth through education, communication, governmental affairs, technical and quality assurance programs. Serving as the coordinating body for research and development in the US NBB is comprised of state, national, and international feedstock and feedstock processor organizations, biodiesel suppliers, fuel marketers and distributors, and technology providers.

Oilheat Leaders Recognize National Biodiesel Board for Bioheat®  Efforts

At this year's Atlantic Region Energy Expo, leaders of the oilheat industry presented the National Biodiesel Board with an award of appreciation for all the organization has done to promote Bioheat®. 

"It meant a great deal to receive this honored recognition," said Joe Jobe, CEO of the National Biodiesel Board, in a letter this week.  "We are grateful and proud of the partnership that our two industries have forged."

Addressed to Eric DeGesero, Executive Vice President of the Fuel Merchants Association of New Jersey, the letter thanked him and other leaders for their commitment to Bioheat.

"On behalf of the National Biodiesel Board and all of our members, I want to thank you and your collaborating state associations for all you have done to advance the commercialization of Bioheat fuel," Jobe said.  "Our commitment to Bioheat is due to our strong belief in top executives like you to lead the oil heat industry into the future."

Bioheat is a combination of oilheat with biodiesel, an advanced biofuel made from sustainable resources such as soybean oil and other oils and fats. Bioheat is cost-competitive with oilheat, and does not require modifications to the oilheat system. 

B100 Gets the Green Light for 2013 Tractor Pull Season 

Many of the souped-up tractors that race down tracks across the country this tractor pull season will get an added boost with 100 percent biodiesel (B100). 

A seven-year partnership between U.S. soybean farmers and the National Tractor Pullers Association (NTPA) reached a new milestone this year when the NTPA agreed to allow the use of 100 percent biodiesel in all diesel pulling classes for this season.

Using biodiesel in pulling competition can provide a 4 percent increase in torque and horsepower, according to a study funded by the state soy checkoff board in Minnesota and conducted by United Pullers of Minnesota. 

"Performance results like these are an added bonus to the environmental and economic benefits of using biodiesel," says Larry Marek, soy checkoff farmer-leader and a soybean farmer from Riverside, Iowa. "If NTPA pullers can get these kinds of results on the track, we can certainly get great results using B100 on the farm."

Also returning to the track this season will be the "Powered by Biodiesel," Light Pro Stock class, in which all competitors are required to use biodiesel blends.

"B100 performs well, and is dependable even in the most excruciating tests," says Gregg Randall, NTPA office general manager. "Pullers will definitely want to take advantage of the fuel this pulling season."

Click here to view the entire 2013 NTPA competition schedule.

Rise in Diesel Vehicle Registrations Good News for Biodiesel

Another sign that the future looks bright for biodiesel is the increase in registrations for clean diesel cars in the U.S., which are up more than 24 percent from 2010 through 2012.  This increase outpaces total car registrations during that same period which increased by just 2.7 percent. 

"This new data of total national vehicle registrations coincides with what we've been seeing in the monthly auto sales - clean diesel and hybrid cars are showing consistent and impressive growth patterns in the U.S.," said Allen Schaeffer, the Executive Director of the Diesel Technology Forum.

"This consistent growth in clean diesel registrations in the last three years is particularly noteworthy since it has occurred during an economic recession, the availability of an extremely large number of fuel efficient vehicles, which was topped off by some of the highest diesel fuel prices in U.S. history. Even in the face of these significant challenges, diesel buyers are seeing the big picture and long-term value by investing in record numbers of clean diesel cars and SUVs."

At the end of 2012, diesel car and SUV registrations reached nearly 800,000. When all passenger vehicles are included - cars, SUVs, pickup trucks and vans - registrations reached 6.65 million.  There are 27 diesel models available to consumers in the U.S. market. Texas, California and Florida lead the country with the most diesel vehicles on the road.