Biodiesel Plant Manager Launches Petition to Reform US Tax Credit

by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) A biodiesel plant manager in Mississippi is doing his part to bring attention to the growing momentum to reinstate the expired $1-per-gallon biodiesel tax credit, and to reform the incentive so that only domestic producers are eligible for it. Phillip Harden, manager of Scott Petroleum Corp.’s 20 MMgy biodiesel plant in Greenville, Mississippi, has launched a White House petition that seeks 100,000 signatures by April 23 in order to get a response from the administration.

“I have been in the industry for 10 years and have a great passion for what we accomplish environmentally and economically,” Harden said. “With the new administration leaning toward fossil fuels, we are very concerned about the future status of the biodiesel industry. I have spoken with several people across the country—other refineries, feedstock suppliers and our customers—all of whom are concerned that the market conditions are not going to be favorable until the imported fuel is removed from the market.”

Roughly a third of the biomass-based diesel consumed in the U.S. last year came from imported product, totaling nearly 1 billion gallons of biodiesel and renewable diesel from Argentina, Indonesia, Singapore and Canada, among other originating countries. Since its inception well over a decade ago, the U.S. biodiesel tax credit has been set up as a blenders incentive, so imported biodiesel and renewable diesel are eligible once blended into U.S. diesel fuel supplies.

Finally, Harden said sustainability is equally important. “Crude oil will run out eventually,” he said, “and it is up to the people whether we will be prepared for that.”