Jobe offers preview of NBB conference

February 6, 2011

BY Erin Voegele

The biodiesel industry seems poised for its biggest year yet as the 8th Annual National Biodiesel Conference & Expo kicks off in Phoenix. The four-day event is hosted by the National Biodiesel Board and will focus on overcoming past hurdles and advancing towards the future, which is looking increasingly bright.

After two years of overwhelming uncertainty, the domestic biodiesel industry seems back on track. According to NBB CEO Joe Jobe, there are two specific reasons why the future is looking up. “2011 is effectively the first full year of the RFS2 program,” he said. “The EPA has said that they are going to enforce the 800 million gallon volume requirement, and we will have the tax credit in place. We’ve never had the RFS2...fully and successfully implemented [to date] because of all of the delays and uncertainties. Last year we didn’t have the tax credit either. We had neither in place. This year we have both in place. It’s a very powerful policy framework and we’re projecting the largest year ever in the history of our industry.”

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Furthermore, Jobe notes that players from all segments of the industry will be taking part in this year’s event. This includes distributors, obligated parties, fuel users, buyers, producers, commodity traders and RIN traders. “They are all here, and they are all here to do business,” Jobe said. “We think that this week is going to be a week where a lot of people do a lot of business. I would like for [attendees] to walk away with a whole bunch of business in their back pockets, and I think they will. It’s necessary and it’s time.”

The event will also feature a panel discussion with representatives of four obligated parties under the RFS2 program. We are fast approaching the initial compliance deadline for the RFS2, Jobe said. That deadline, which falls on Feb. 28, will be extremely important in overcoming any lingering uncertainty in the program. While there has been some doubt regarding whether or not obligated parties are going to comply with the program, pay a fine for noncompliance, or petition the U.S. EPA for waivers, Jobe said all indications are that the obligated parties will be able to meet their requirements.

While the biodiesel industry has experienced its share of obstacles the past two years, Jobe stressed that that the industry has also made a great deal of progress during that time as well. One clear example is OEM acceptance of biodiesel blended fuel. “We’ve got all of the Big Three American automakers accepting B20 in their vehicles,” Jobe said. “In fact, Ford’s new 2011 truck has got a B20 emblem right on the side…I don’t think you could get a more powerful statement about OEM acceptance.”

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The National Biodiesel Conference & Expo will be open to the public on Feb. 7. Arizona residents will have the opportunity to attend the conference’s opening General Session free of charge and will have access to the events and exhibits in the Expo Call until 4:30 p.m. This includes the Biodiesel Vehicle Showcase, which features a lineup of the latest biodiesel-powered vehicles.

 

 

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