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|  | President Bush Reiterates Support of Biofuels |  |
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 During a Rose Garden news conference Tuesday, President Bush responded to the recent frenzy of attacks on biofuels. He reinforced America's need for biofuels, saying, "It's in our national interests that our farmers grow energy, as opposed to us purchasing energy from parts of the world that are unstable or may not like us."
The President also countered questions about biofuels' impact on food prices, stating that the vast majority of the world's food prices "are caused by weather, increased demand and energy prices," and not biofuels.
During his remarks, the President said, "Another reason for high gas prices is the lack of refining capacity." The U. S. biodiesel industry is helping increase the nation's refining capacity by building plants that produce an American-made, cleaner burning fuel. The 500 million gallons of biodiesel produced in the U.S. in 2007 displaced 20 million barrels of petroleum.
Read the press release here.
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| | NBB Facilitates $1.2 Million Grant to Danforth Center | |
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 Yesterday, the NBB announced support for a three-year research project designed to increase output of oils for use in biodiesel production. The $1.2 million grant, with funding support from the U.S. Department of Transportation, will help increase America’s supply of renewable oil used in the production of biodiesel.
The recipient, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, is a not-for-profit research institute based in St. Louis. This research project will be focused on increasing the oil produced in soybean seeds by altering specific biochemical pathways that are embedded within the soybean plant.
U.S. Senator from Missouri Kit Bond was instrumental in getting the NBB and Danforth together to make this happen. "Making biofuels more efficient puts America one step closer to a stable home-grown energy supply and I applaud the partnership of the Danforth Center and the National Biodiesel Board for their leadership and vision," said Senator Bond.
Maintaining and enhancing environmental sustainability is a priority of the biodiesel industry. Using less energy to produce more oil from the same acreage is a fundamental step toward sustainability.
"We are proud to support the Danforth Center as researchers there look for ways to get more bang for the buck from each soybean seed," said NBB CEO Joe Jobe. "Whatever advances are made on soybeans will have a high likelihood of being transferred to other oilseed crops – other biodiesel sources."
Read the entire press release here.
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| | Biodiesel Part of President’s Strategy for Reducing Emissions | |
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In April, President Bush announced an intermediate goal for reducing America's greenhouse gas emissions. Part of the strategy includes the requirement of fuel producers to supply 36 billion gallons of renewable fuel by 2022. Expanded production and use of U.S. biodiesel will play a major role in achieving this goal.
"Biodiesel not only reduces our dependence on foreign oil, it is a valuable tool in the fight to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," said National Biodiesel Board CEO Joe Jobe. "Biodiesel significantly reduces carbon emissions when compared to conventional diesel fuel, and the biodiesel industry looks forward to constructively working with policymakers from both sides of the aisle to meet our shared goal of addressing climate change."
In 2007 alone, biodiesel's contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions was the equivalent of removing 700,000 passenger vehicles from America's roadways. The biodiesel industry fully expects to meet the 50% greenhouse gas reduction requirement for biomass-based diesel under the federal Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS).
Read the President's remarks here.
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| | TIME Runs NBB’s Response to “Clean Energy Scam” | |
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In a March 27 TIME magazine cover story called "The Clean Energy Scam," By Michael Grunwald, biofuels were blamed for offenses ranging from emitting net carbon to tearing down rainforests. Joe Jobe, CEO of the National Biodiesel Board responded with a letter that TIME magazine published in the "Inbox" section in its April 21 issue.
Below are the sections of the letter that ran, in case you missed it.
"Your cover story provides a distorted, inaccurate picture of biofuels. The overwhelming body of data demonstrates the carbon benefits of biofuels. For every unit of energy it takes to make domestic biodiesel, 3.5 units are gained, giving biodiesel the highest energy balance of any liquid fuel. It also has a 78 percent life-cycle carbon dioxide reduction. In 2007 alone, biodiesel's contribution to reducing greenhouse-gas emissions was the equivalent of removing 700,000 passenger vehicles from America's roadways. The U.S. biodiesel industry strongly opposes rain-forest destruction and nonsustainable agricultural practices. It is implementing a major initiative to enhance the overall sustainability of biodiesel production. Biodiesel increases our renewable-energy supply, adds well-paying, green jobs to the economy and reduces carbons and other emissions. I am proud to work in an industry that addresses these critical issues facing our nation and world.
Joe Jobe, CEO, National Biodiesel Board
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo."
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| | Biodiesel Benefits Food Supply | |
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Recently it has become apparent to most in the biodiesel industry that the media thinks biofuels (which includes biodiesel) is negatively affecting food availability.
The combination of rising energy costs, increased global food demand, and the weak dollar are the main causes of rising food prices. U.S. biodiesel production is not a significant factor. Much of the edible feedstock used for biodiesel provides protein meal in addition to oil.
In fact, in 2007, only 12 percent of U.S. soybean production and four percent of global soybean production was used by the U.S. biodiesel industry to produce fuel. From the soybeans used to produce biodiesel, 81 percent of the soybean’s yield is protein that enters the market for either human consumption or animal feed. Technological advances are certain to increase soybean yields from existing acreage in the future.
Greater use of fats and oils for biodiesel production increases the value that farmers receive for their crops, while making protein meal less expensive. Biodiesel can provide benefits in food availability in addition to the well documented lower carbon dioxide (CO2), and higher energy balance. For more on the facts on commodity prices, please visit the sustainability website at www.biodiesel.org.
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| | NBB Launches Sustainability Web Site | |
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 To help you keep up to date with sustainability issues and Sustainability Task Force activities, the National Biodiesel Board launched a sustainability Web site last month. The Web site, www.biodiesel.org/resources/sustainability is full of information on environmental, economic, and social sustainability. You can also follow the Sustainability Task Force link to see meeting minutes and more.
The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) and the Sustainability Task Force work hand-in-hand to help ensure that biodiesel produced and sold in the U.S. comes from sustainable resources and to discourage any non-sustainable practices in producing agricultural commodities used for biodiesel. The concept of utilizing resources in a way that can be sustained indefinitely is not a new idea, but it is one that is justifiably receiving increased attention in today’s public discourse.
For more information on the task force, visit www.biodiesel.org.
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| | Webcast Informs Schools about Biodiesel | |
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A new webcast, Biodiesel for Buses and Children: News to Use, shows why biodiesel is an excellent choice for school bus fleets...particularly in terms of health, equipment, economy, and the environment. You can view the webcast free at www.biodiesel.org/multimedia/audiovideo/.
The webcast, starring Tom Verry of the National Biodiesel Board and Alan Weber, MARC-IV, among others, was developed by the Missouri School Boards' Association and the National Biodiesel Board with the support of the U.S. Department of Energy and others. Originally broadcast live, the webcast was designed to educate decision makers (school bus fleet managers, contracted fleet operators, school board members, and other interested personnel) about the use of biodiesel blends.
Topics include health effects, emissions reductions, fuel quality, storage and handling guidelines, procurement specifications, and pricing. The sixty minute program also serves as a resource for other fleets and users.
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| | Safeway Recognized for its Environmental Efforts | |
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 Once again, Safeway is making biodiesel news as a finalist for the CALSTART Blue sky Award 2008. CALSTART is a North American advanced transportation consortium and the Blue Sky Awards recognize outstanding marketplace contributions to clean air, energy efficiency and clean transportation.
Safeway made the finalist list for using biodiesel in its entire fleet of 1,000 diesel vehicles, thus reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 75 million pounds annually. That’s the equivalent of taking nearly 7,500 passenger vehicles off the road each year. The winners will be announced on June 10.
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| | Schools and Students Rewarded for Environmental Efforts | |
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In April, several schools and student groups were recognized for environmental efforts using biodiesel.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognized Fort Wayne Community School District, Fort Wayne, Ind., for its use of a $50,000 EPA Clean School Bus grant to reduce diesel emissions from its school bus fleet. Part of the grant was used to buy biodiesel fuel that was shared with Southwest Allen County Schools. The two districts have been using biodiesel in 372 buses as a result of the grant.
In Tennessee, the Merrimack High Biodiesel Crew beat out universities to finish second in the Global Venture Challenge at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Knoxville, Tenn. The crew earned a $7,500 prize for its "BioBuddie 2000," a mini biodiesel processor that can be used in schools as an educational tool.
In higher education, a group of University of Michigan business school students took the top prize at Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.'s Better Living Business Plan Challenge. The students won $20,000 for developing a biodiesel company that will produce a nonfood-based renewable fuel while supporting sustainable development in Africa. As one of the judges explained, they beat out other universities by addressing "the growing need for renewable fuel sources and the social mission of economic development, in a way that is both profitable and sustainable." Wal-Mart developed the competition to provide business students from around the world an opportunity to invent sustainable products and business solutions.
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| | Who’s Using Biodiesel Now? | |
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 April 2008 was a busy month for new users of biodiesel. A variety of businesses, from entertainment to trucking, announced their commitment to using sustainable, renewable biodiesel.
Sugarloaf Ski Resort made one of the new user announcements this past month. The resort in Maine started using biodiesel made from local restaurant waste vegetable oil to fuel resort shuttle buses, grooming equipment and other off-road vehicles. The biodiesel project is part of Sugarloaf's new focus to be "environmentally friendly."
In celebration of Earth Day, three Major League baseball teams announced green initiatives involving biodiesel. The Houston Astros are using biodiesel in mowers and tractors at Minute Maid Park. Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies fans have a new reason to partake in ballpark food. At the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati, waste cooking oils generated in the kitchens and concessions are being recycled for future use in biodiesel. At Citizens Bank Park, the Philadelphia Phillies are turning fry oil from chicken tenders and French fries into biodiesel.
Moving isn’t always a "green" proposition, but NorthStar Moving Corporation of Los Angeles is making an effort to "lighten its carbon footprint." NorthStar announced its switch to biodiesel for powering moving trucks.
On its quest to go green, the Frankfort Plant Board, a municipal utility providing electric, water and cable service to Franklin County and Frankfort, Ky., has converted its 55 diesel trucks and equipment to use biodiesel fuel. The board said its decision to convert to biodiesel was fueled by positive feedback from auto manufacturers, fuel distributors and other utilities currently using biodiesel.
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