Soybean industry officials attend National Biodiesel Board meetings

Mike Cunningham, the American Soybean Association   (ASA)   representative to the NBB and an NBB Governing Board member attended the event.
Mike Cunningham, the American Soybean Association (ASA) representative to the NBB and an NBB Governing Board member attended the event. | File photo

The National Biodiesel Board's (NBB) membership meeting took place the week of June 30 in Washington, D.C. and the soybean industry made sure to be there as the primary policy focus was on two issues that greatly affect the industry – the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volume requirements and the biodiesel tax credit.

Mike Cunningham, the American Soybean Association (ASA) representative to the NBB and an NBB Governing Board member attended, along with the ASA’s D.C. staff.

Janet McCabe, the Environmental Protection Agency’s assistant administrator, spoke to the group on the EPA’s process and rationale for setting the RFS in their Proposed Rule at 2.1 billion gallons for 2018, despite the urging of the biodiesel industry and the ASA to raise the RFS to 2.5 billion gallons.

NBB members visited members of Congress to encourage them to co-sponsor biodiesel tax credit related legislation. The bill (H.R. 5240) was introduced by Rep. Kristi Noem (R-SD) and the Senate version is expected to be introduced by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA). 

Both versions of the bill would extend the tax credit for three years and would ensure it was restructured from a blender’s credit to a producer’s credit.