Obama Administration Must Uphold Commitment to Biodiesel
by Anne Steckel (The Hill/National Biodiesel Board) … Specifically, the Energy Independence and Security Act was passed by an overwhelming bipartisan majority in Congress and signed into law by President George W. Bush because they all understood that our addiction to oil was not just bad for consumers and the economy, but it was helping to fund terrorist groups and hostile nations that sought to do us harm. The law created the Renewable Fuel Standard, or RFS, because Republicans and Democrats realized that the key to breaking our addiction to oil was to spur the growth of renewables like biodiesel, that aren’t made from petroleum.
This legislation, like the domestic biodiesel industry, has been a huge success. It has helped biodiesel grow from a niche fuel to a commercial-scale industry with biorefineries in almost every state in the U.S. Before the current policy delays, the industry produced a record of more than 1.8 billion gallons in 2013 – or nearly 5 percent of the diesel used in cars and trucks in the United States.
The industry did this using a diverse mix of raw materials, including recycled cooking oil, plant oils such as soybean oil, and animal fats. According to the EPA, biodiesel emits 57 percent to 86 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than petroleum diesel. And the industry is supporting more than 62,000 jobs across the United States.
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The setbacks resulting from the Obama administration’s severe policy delays are very real. The National Biodiesel Board estimates that 54 biodiesel plants in 30 states have either closed or idled because of the policy uncertainty.
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A weak or status quo proposal will mean that more of our energy dollars are sent overseas. The result will be that foreign nations with large supplies of oil will be better funded and have more influence over our security and economic stability. READ MORE
