US biodiesel group urges President Obama to raise RFS volume

12 March 2012 17:37  [Source: ICIS news]

MEDELLIN (ICIS) --The US National Biodiesel Board (NBB) urged President Obama to raise the volume standard for boosting biodiesel use under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in 2013, the trade association said on Monday.

“The US biodiesel industry had record production last year of more than 1bn gallons, thanks in part to the Renewable Fuel Standard,” said Anne Steckel, NBB's vice president of federal affairs.

The Obama administration is reviewing an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposal to grow the biodiesel volume requirement under the RFS to 1.28bn gallons in 2013 from 1.00bn gallons in 2012..

Late last year, the administration delayed the decision, saying it needed further review.

Steckel said the increased volume requirement “translates directly into jobs and improved energy security, and it is exactly what we need if we are ever going to reduce our exposure to this endless cycle of oil price spikes that are so damaging to our economy."

The fate of the RFS standard is considered to be critical by most biodiesel producers.

Biodiesel is an alternative fuel produced from renewable resources. The most commonly used feedstocks are rapeseed, soy and palm oil.

By: Leela Landress
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