Biodiesel Industry Celebrates Record Production, Eyes Federal Policy During Conference

The National Biodiesel Board, Jefferson City, Mo., has reported that the biodiesel industry experienced another year of record growth with more than 1.8 billion gal. of biodiesel produced in 2013. However, like many, the organization is concerned that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2014 proposal may reduce the market.

“The biodiesel industry hit a grand slam in 2013, hitting an average annualized monthly production rate of 2 billion gallons for the last half of the year—double that of last year’s record,” said Joe Jobe, CEO of the National Biodiesel Board. “The EPA’s volume proposal for 2014 would effectively cut the volumes in half from current production levels. I can’t think of a more unacceptable example of a call for full retreat during such an overwhelming victory.”

In his annual address at the January Biodiesel Conference & Expo, Jobe shed light on the current industry.

He pointed out that biodiesel’s story is not unique, “Biodiesel’s story is an example of how effective government policy can be to jump start a fledgling industry. That is the same story of nearly every new industry that involves technological development.”

One of the most influential policies in the energy sector is the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2). Jobe explained, “The Renewable Fuel Standard is effective policy that is working. It is fulfilling its intention to establish diversity, competition, and choice in the transportation fuel sector, which is why the incumbent industry is trying to kill it.”

Biodiesel is the first and only commercial-scale fuel produced across the U.S. to meet the EPA’s definition as an advanced biofuel, cutting carbon emissions by as much as 86 percent, says the group, adding that the industry supports approximately 62,000 jobs.