BioFuels Journal

Congress failed to renew the $1 per gallon tax credit for the biodiesel industry before Dec. 31, 2009.

BioFuels Journal spoke Jan. 7 with Renewable Energy Group’s (REG) Gary Haer, vice president, sales and marketing, about the impact of the tax credit not being renewed.

Highlights

• REG has for 212 million gallons of biodiesel capacity at seven biodiesel plants across the United States.

• The net result is a negative impact to the biodiesel industry with layoffs and idled plants.

• This also impacts the blenders in the petroleum industry who will no longer receive the credit for blending biodiesel.

• House has passed the extension. But still waiting for it to be taken up by the Senate. It may be the middle to the end of February before the credit will be addressed and extended.

Gary Haer Biography

For more than 15 years, Haer has been at the forefront of the development of the biodiesel industry.

Currently, Haer serves as vice president of sales and marketing for Renewable Energy Group, Inc (REG).

REG is a biodiesel industry sales leader offering a complete biodiesel solution.

Renewable Energy Group markets REG-9000 biodiesel through large petroleum companies and fuel distributors.

REG-9000 is used by on-highway fleets, municipalities, and power generator, mining, military, home heating and agriculture applications.

REG's network production facilities consist of state-of-the-art proprietary multiple-feedstock technology.

Renewable Energy Group offers procurement and risk management, production operations and technology services in addition to alternative feedstock research and commercialization.

As the biodiesel industry began to take shape in early 2000, Haer served as the national sales and marketing manager for biodiesel for West Central.

In 2006, REG emerged from the West Central business and Haer took the helm of the sales and marketing department including market and distribution infrastructure development for national and international biodiesel sales.

In 2007, his group was responsible for the sales of approximately 20% of all biodiesel sold in the United States.

Haer earned his bachelor's degree from Northwest Missouri State University and an MBA from Baker University.

For more than eight years, Haer has served as a member of the National Biodiesel Board.

He currently serves as vice chairman of the National Biodiesel Board's Executive Committee.

Haer has also served as vice chairman of the Energy Committee for the National Council of Farm Cooperatives.

See Related Websites/Articles:

• Renewable Energy Group, Inc.

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