Biodiesel


National Biodiesel Board Wraps Up 2016 National Biodiesel Conference and Expo

Date Posted: January 29, 2016

Tampa - The 2016 National Biodiesel Conference and Expo came to a close today, sending home more than 1,000 biodiesel industry leaders and supporters.

Hosted by the National Biodiesel Board, the conference drew in supporters and industry leaders from coast to coast.

Here are some of the best moments and biggest announcements to come out the busy week at the biodiesel event of the year.

2015 Biodiesel Fuel Volumes Announced

As the biodiesel conference began, the EPA released the numbers showing that US consumers used a record of nearly 2.1 billion gallons of Biodiesel in 2015.

According to NBB CEO Joe Jobe, the numbers “show without question that the Renewable Fuel Standard is delivering significant volumes of Advanced Biofuel to the American people.”

Industry leaders said that the numbers demonstrate biodiesel’s continued success as America’s first and only EPA-designated Advanced Biofuel to reach commercial-scale production nationwide.

State of the Industry Speech Rallies Supporters

One of the leading events of the national conference is NBB CEO Joe Jobe’s state of the industry address.

Jobe compared the biodiesel industry to an underdog in a fight.

“Last year the biodiesel industry demonstrated more than ever that no matter how beat up we are, no matter how outgunned we are, we don’t back down.

"We came together like never before.

"We stayed true to our principles in the face of deceitful attacks and we achieved the success necessary to put us back on track.”

Citing the major accomplishments of 2015 including the renewal and extension of the tax credit, and the RFS increasing volumes through 2017, Jobe said that “2016 is going to be our strongest year yet.”

100,000 Trucks Join The Biodiesel Ranks With PACCAR Announcement

The Vehicle Showcase brought a welcome announcement that Peterbilt and Kenworth manufacturer, PACCAR Inc, now approves of B20 biodiesel in one hundred percent of its vehicles, old and new.

This announcement means that over 100,000 new trucks are joining the biodiesel ranks, traveling over twelve billion miles year round.

For their efforts, Joe Jobe presented PACCAR with the Eye on Biodiesel Initiative Award.

Former Congressman Keynote Calls Out to Republicans

Presenting the Keynote address was former Republican Congressman Bob Inglis.

Formerly a climate disputer, Inglis has since listened to the science and now advocates for free enterprise solutions to energy and climate challenges.

"It's fabulous when an important industry group like the National Biodiesel Board calls for an objective consideration of climate science and an apples-to-apples comparison between the competing fuels” said Inglis.

“With that kind of clarity, free enterprise can fix climate change."

NBB Awards Climate Champions, Industry Leaders

In addition to the Initiative Award, there were several other Eye on Biodiesel awards given out during the conference.

The Climate Leader Award went to the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2), and the American Lung Association in California for their environmental leadership in promoting biodiesel and other clean fuels along the West Coast.

The Impact Award was given to Beth Calabotta for her scientific work in the industry through the National Biodiesel Foundation.

The Pioneer Award was presented to John Maniscalco for his dedication and leadership within the Bioheat® community, and the Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Mike Livergood for his help in developing the biodiesel industry in the US and efforts to shape and grow it through his work.

Conference Guests Take Biodiesel for a Spin

Conference attendees and the public were invited to get behind the wheel and test out brand new vehicles from Ford and Chevrolet.

Powered by biodiesel, the 2016 Ford F350, the 2016 Chevy Silverado 2500, and the 2015 Ford Transit were all available to check out and drive around the downtown Tampa area.

Conference goers were abuzz with recent successes, most notably the EPA getting the RFS process back on track and the reinstatement of the biodiesel tax credit.

After years of uncertainty, the biodiesel industry looks to firmly plant its feet and step boldly into 2016.

For more information, please contact Kaleb Little at 573-645-3260 or klittle@biodiesel.org

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