Last week more than 1,100 members of the
biodiesel industry from across the country gathered in San Diego for the
2014 National Biodiesel Conference & Expo. While industry leaders
can point to another year of record growth with more than 1.8 billion
gallons of biodiesel produced in 2013, a recent proposal from the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency has producers wary that the market could
be dramatically reduced.
“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 Biodiesel
Conference & Expo, Jobe shed light on current industry challenges
and exposed cracks in how we think about energy.
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. Strong government policy
support along with a unique spirit of innovation, entrepreneurship, and
risk-taking are the primary reasons that so many major modern industries
had their start in America.”
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.”
Today is the final day for the industry to
submit official comments to EPA on the proposal with thousands of
supporters already doing so. The industry is also eagerly awaiting
President Obama’s State of the Union speech tonight for additional
clarity regarding his position on renewable fuels.
While this
critical federal proposal was the topic of general session speakers,
breakout sessions, and hallway conversations among attendees, there were
many other activities at the industry’s annual event. Attendees heard
from automakers, fleet users, and consumers about their biodiesel use
and got to test out a number of new diesel models during the
Ride-and-Drive and Vehicle Showcase events.
A record number of
students from across the country participated as part of the Next
Generation Scientists for Biodiesel program. The NBB program has led to
increased communication and collaboration between the biodiesel industry
and universities involved in biodiesel research. Thirty-six students
representing 18 different universities attended the conference with a
handful presenting their research during a student-focused breakout
session and through a student poster session on the tradeshow floor.
Also,
NBB recognized leadership and achievements within the industry with the
annual “Eye on Biodiesel” awards. The honorees were: Impact Award, the
California Air Resources Board; Innovation Award, General Motors for the
B20-approved Chevrolet Cruze; Industry Partnership, Kirk Leeds, Iowa
Soybean Association; and Inspiration Award, Len Hering, RADM, USN,
California Center for Sustainable Energy.
“The biodiesel industry
would not be what it is without champions and supporters like these Eye
on Biodiesel honorees,” said Jobe. “We are proud to honor our award
winners who have made a substantial impact in getting biodiesel to where
it is today, a fully commercialized advanced biofuel that is produced
from coast to coast.”
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