The biodiesel industry is preparing for its best year to date by fighting its underdog status among established products and common misconceptions.
The National Biodiesel Conference & Expo was held last month in Tampa, gathering experts and industry leaders to plan the year ahead.
“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,” National Biodiesel Board CEO Joe Jobe said during the opening general session. “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.”
In 2015, the industry accomplished many achievements that set them up to have an even better 2016. The Renewable Fuel Standard, which governs renewable fuel blending, has volumes defined for biodiesel through 2017, and a tax law received an extension helping biodiesel to be more cost-effective against petroleum. Both issues will help industry insiders and experts to have a clearer vision for 2016.
“While our fight is not over, we have a different future. 2016 is going to be our strongest year yet,” Jobe said. “A year we will show that we are ready to take on one of the biggest challenges of our time.”
The challenge Jobe speaks of is the spread of misinformation about the effects biodiesel has on climate change, despite science-based facts to support sustainable growth and cleaner-burning fuel. Much of the misinformation was exposed by a documentary, “Merchants of Doubt,” that was viewed during the conference.
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