The National Biodiesel Board released the following statement June 25 from Anne Steckel, vice president of federal affairs, in response to President Obama's speech on climate change:

“First, we want to thank President Obama for his leadership on this issue and his strong support for renewable fuels. As this plan makes clear, a key part of the equation in addressing climate change is breaking our dependence on fossil fuels. Biodiesel can help do that in a practical, cost-effective way. Used in today's clean, efficient diesel engines, biodiesel already is the first EPA-designated advanced biofuel to reach 1 billion gallons of annual production. The 4.6 billion gallons of biodiesel used since 2005 have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 74 billion pounds—the same impact as removing 5.4 million passenger vehicles from America's roadways. We can continue that progress by strengthening renewable fuels requirements in the coming years, while at the same time creating jobs and reducing our dependence on imported fuels.”

Made from an increasingly diverse mix of resources such as recycled cooking oil, soybean oil and animal fats, biodiesel is produced in nearly every state in the country and supports some 50,000 jobs nationwide, with nearly 1.1 billion gallons of production last year. It is designated by the EPA as an advanced biofuel under the RFS, meaning the agency has determined it reduces lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 percent compared with petroleum diesel. Specifically, the EPA says biodiesel reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 57 percent to 86 percent, depending on the feedstock used. The National Biodiesel Board is the U.S. biodiesel trade association.