The Great Lakes Zephyr - Wind Energy & Hydrogen Journal

A National Park fleet manager, an ethanol group, a federal agency and an actress took home awards from the first annual “Eye on Biodiesel” awards ceremony. The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) presented the awards at the 2004 Biodiesel Conference & Expo.

NBB designed the Eye on Biodiesel awards program to recognize individuals and groups who have significantly advanced the board’s mission of public education and industry growth. The award categories and winners are:

* Impact –U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA has championed biodiesel development and use for more than a decade, helping it become the fastest-growing alternative fuel in the nation. USDA has created groundbreaking initiatives like the Bioenergy Program, which reimburses biofuel producers for the cost of commodities used in production. USDA’s Office of Energy Policy and New Uses has produced important economic studies that guide decisions by Congress, industry and others. USDA also implements the National Biodiesel Education Program, approved by Congress in the Farm Bill. This program is aiding NBB’s mission to educate Americans about the benefits of biodiesel. Additionally, USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, particularly the Beltsville Maryland Agricultural Research Center, has demonstrated, through their own use of the fuel, the benefits of biodiesel to thousands of potential users and decision makers.
* Inspiration –Kent Bullard. The fleet manager at Channel Islands National Park, Kent Bullard was instrumental in switching the park to B100 in 2000, helping to meet the goal of making the islands petroleum free. Bullard also volunteers his time to speak to environmental groups, other fleet managers and government agencies to promote the benefits of biodiesel.
* Industry Partnership –Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). The group, which represents the ethanol industry, has never missed an opportunity to lend its voice to the biodiesel industry. Collaboration between the two groups has led to significant legislative initiatives, including the proposed biodiesel tax credit, the volumetric ethanol excise tax credit and renewable fuel standard. Bob Dinneen, president and CEO of RFA, addressed biodiesel conference attendees during the first general session. He concluded by calling for a continued partnership, saying the highest accomplishments are yet to come.
* Influencer – Daryl Hannah. Hannah uses biodiesel in her personal vehicle and has become a strong volunteer spokesperson for biodiesel, taking her message to the nation on shows such as The Tonight Show and The O’Reilly Factor. She also addressed more than 500 biodiesel stakeholders during the first general session of the 2004 Biodiesel Conference & Expo.


“We use biodiesel in our cars to run daily errands, we use it in our work trucks, we use it at high altitude and in super cold temperatures. It works great and smells great!”