>From: "National Biodiesel Board" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: "newsletter" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: Biodiesel Bulletin >Date: Tue, 30 Apr 2002 16:40:50 -0500 >Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >BIODIESEL BULLETIN >A Monthly Newsletter of the >National Biodiesel Board >April 30, 2002 > >HEADLINES: > >SENATE APPROVES ENERGY BILL WITH BIODIESEL PROVISIONS >METZ TALKS BIODIESEL WITH PRESIDENT BUSH >ASTM ISSUES BIODIESEL FUEL STANDARD >BOISE BUSES AND GARBAGE TRUCKS TO RUN ON BIODIESEL >NATIONAL AFV ODYSSEY DAY FEATURES BIODIESEL >FARM BILL ENERGY TITLE GIVES BOOST TO BIODIESEL > > >SENATE APPROVES ENERGY BILL WITH BIODIESEL PROVISIONS > >On April 25, the U.S. Senate approved the Senate Energy Bill, S. 517 by a >vote of 88 ö 11. The bill includes multiple provisions that will help level >the playing field for biodiesel in the highly competitive energy >marketplace. Those provisions are: > >Biodiesel Excise Tax Incentive ÷ S. 517 would provide blenders of biodiesel >with a 1-cent reduction in the diesel excise tax for every percentage of >biodiesel made from virgin vegetable oil that is blended with diesel up to >20 percent of total content. The legislation is specific to vegetable >oil-based biodiesel and would reimburse the Federal Highway Trust Fund >through the U.S. Department of Agricultureâs Commodity Credit Corporation. > >Blenders tax credit ÷ S. 517 also offers a half cent per percent up to 20 >percent tax credit for biodiesel made from recycled oils and animal fats. >Senators Max Baucus (D-MT) and Grassley sponsored the amendment. > >Renewable Fuels Standard ÷ Under S. 517, biodiesel is an eligible fuel to >help the nation meet a new 5 billion gallon renewable fuels standard set in >the legislation. The renewable fuels standard is similar to legislation >introduced by Senators Chuck Hagel (R-NE) and Tim Johnson (D-SD). > >Removal of 50% Biodiesel Limit in EPAct ÷ S. 517 amended the Energy Policy >Act of 1992 (EPAct) to encourage government fleets to use more biodiesel to >meet current energy requirements. Senators Kit Bond (R-MO) and Blanch >Lincoln (D-AR) authored the amendment in S. 517 to remove the 50 percent >limit on biodiesel use for government fleets. > >Federal Fleet Use ÷ The legislation requires federal government fleets to >use biodiesel and ethanol when they are cost competitive. Senators Mark >Dayton (D-MN) and Grassley supported the measure. > >The U.S. House of Representatives approved their Energy Bill, H.R. 4, in >2001. However, none of these biodiesel provisions was included in H.R. 4. >The differences between H.R. 4 and S. 517 will soon be reconciled in a joint >House/Senate Conference Committee. > >ãWe look forward to similar support in the House of Representatives and >seeing the President sign it into law,ä Metz said. ãMy son is coming back >to the farm and will be a sixth generation farmer. I think what happens >with this energy bill is crucial to a long-term solution for ag surplus and >to the success of the next generation of farmers.ä > >METZ TALKS BIODIESEL WITH PRESIDENT BUSH > >National Biodiesel Board (NBB) President and American Soybean Association >(ASA) board member Bob Metz, from South Dakota, represented soybean >producers in a roundtable meeting with President George Bush in Wentworth, >S.D. this month. The President stopped in Wentworth to visit an ethanol >plant. Metz was one of about a dozen agriculture representatives who took >part in the meeting, where he had the opportunity to talk with the President >about the biodiesel tax incentive and the renewable fuels standard. > >"I was very heartened to hear that he does not see this as strictly an ag >issue," Metz said. "He truly sees this as an opportunity to replace Middle >East oil with renewable fuels from the United States." > >Metz said the President indicated that the quicker we can use renewable >fuels from the United States the better off the United States will be. The >President told Metz that he will do what he can in Washington. Agriculture >Secretary Ann Veneman also participated in the roundtable meeting and >mentioned to the President that Metz had driven her in the Missouri Soybean >Associationâs biodiesel pickup truck while it was in Washington at the end >of its 10-year anniversary tour from Jefferson City, Missouri to the U.S. >Capitol. > >ASTM ISSUES BIODIESEL FUEL STANDARD > >The premier standard-setting organization in the United States has issued a >fuel specification for biodiesel. The American Society of Testing and >Materials (ASTM) issued Specification D 6751 for all biodiesel fuel bought >and sold in the U.S., marking a major milestone for the biodiesel industry. > >"Now that the full standard is in place, it sets the bar for all biodiesel >production," said Steve Howell, Chairman of the ASTM Biodiesel Standards >Task Force. "It will help protect consumers from poor products and reduce >the cost of buying and selling biodiesel. While many adopted the >provisional specification in 1999 (PS 121), those that didn't had to >negotiate a specification. With the final passage of D 6751, they won't >have to go through that process any more." > >Although ASTM Committee D2 approved the standard in December, it only became >available to the public this month. The process of reaching the standard, >entitled ãStandard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel (B100) Blend Stock for >Distillate Fuels,ä was extremely thorough according to ASTM officials. > >ãThe biodiesel standard was developed through a consensus process that >reflects many points of view,ä said Dave Bradley, ASTM Manager, Committee >D2. ãYou have fuel producers, users, engine makers and others all having an >opportunity to provide input.ä The ASTM Biodiesel Task Force began working >on the standard in 1994. > >Those interested in getting a copy of the standard can buy it for $30 at >www.astm.org. To contact ASTM customer service directly, call (610) >832-9585 or e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >BOISE BUSES AND GARBAGE TRUCKS TO RUN ON BIODIESEL > >Commuter shuttle buses from Treasure Valley Transit (TVT) in Boise, Idaho >have made the switch to B20. The TVTâs eight 20-passenger commuter shuttles >will cover about 4,500 miles a week burning a total of about 700 gallons of >B20 fuel. Garbage and recycling trucks from Sanitary Services Company of >Meridian and a group of school buses from the Meridian School District have >also begun using B20. > >The biodiesel project involves using up to 100,000 gallons of B20 over the >next six to eight months in the Treasure Valley. A Department of Energy >grant administered by the Idaho Energy Division is paying for the >incremental cost of the biodiesel. > >NATIONAL AFV ODYSSEY DAY FEATURES BIODIESEL > >The biodiesel industry was represented across the nation in the Clean Cities >National Alternative Fuel Vehicle Odyssey Day held April 11 at different >locations throughout the country. In Cincinnati, the odyssey featured >biodiesel prominently as part of a tri-state renewable diesel workshop. >Officials from Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana took part in the workshop. >Representatives from the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) and National >Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) spoke at the event. A group of about 150 public >and private business leaders attended. > >NBB representatives also participated in AFV Odyssey Day events in Buffalo, >New York and Jefferson City, Missouri. > >FARM BILL ENERGY TITLE GIVES BOOST TO BIODIESEL >Biodiesel fared well in the 2002 Farm Bill, recently completed by House and >Senate conferees (creating hybrid version of the separate House and Senate >farm bills). The new energy title in the bill provides mandatory funding for >the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Bioenergy Program. Under the >program, the CCC will continue to provide payments to fuel producers to >offset part of their cost of buying commodities used to expand eligible >bioenergy (commercial fuel grade ethanol and biodiesel) production. The >program stimulates industrial consumption of agricultural commodities by >promoting their use in bioenergy production. Payments are based on output >increases (using eligible commodities) over the previous year. The funding >for the program is listed as $204 million in the Farm Bill. >The bill also provides five million dollars for a new biodiesel education >program to inform government and private fuel consumers about the benefits >of biodiesel; establishes a new program for the purchase of bio-based >products by federal agencies; and establishes a program to assist farmers in >purchasing renewable energy systems and making energy efficient >improvements. > >The House and Senate are expected to vote on the Conference Committeeâs work >in the near future. Assuming it is approved, the bill will go to the >Presidentâs desk.
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