June 11, 2019
BY The National Biodiesel Board
More than 70 National Biodiesel Board members are fanning out across the nation’s capital June 11 to meet with 130 congressional offices and discuss the status of the biodiesel tax incentive and the Renewable Fuel Standard. The meetings are part of NBB’s annual member meeting and Washington, D.C., fly in, which began June 10.
“Biodiesel and renewable diesel are produced, distributed and used across the U.S.,” said Kurt Kovarik, NBB’s vice president of federal affairs. “The industry supports more than 60,000 jobs across multiple economic sectors. Gathering in Washington each year is important to our members so that they can meet as constituents with their representatives and senators. We are hosting a record 130 meetings this year to discuss the uncertainty our industry’s companies and workers along with farmers are facing, due to the biodiesel tax incentive’s lapse and the negative impact of small refinery exemptions on the Renewable Fuel Standard.”
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Also on June 10, NBB thanked Reps. Rosa DeLauro, D-Connecticut; Cheri Bustos, D-Illinois; Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa; and 19 other representatives for urging House leaders to immediately extend the biodiesel tax incentive.
“Biodiesel and renewable diesel represent a sustainable and alternative fuel source that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and supports thousands of green jobs across the country,” the representatives write.
“On behalf of NBB and its members across the country, thank you to Reps. DeLauro, Bustos and Loebsack for conveying to House leaders the urgency of renewing the biodiesel tax incentive,” Kovarik said. “Biodiesel producers are looking for an immediate resolution to the uncertainty they’ve faced since the start of 2018. The industry needs policy certainty to meet the nation’s goals for low-carbon fuels, green jobs and cleaner air.”
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The letter to Congressional leaders highlights bipartisan, regionally diverse support for renewing the biodiesel tax incentive.
A copy of the letter is available on Rep. Rosa DeLauro’s website.
The U.S. EPA on July 8 hosted virtual public hearing to gather input on the agency’s recently released proposed rule to set 2026 and 2027 RFS RVOs. Members of the biofuel industry were among those to offer testimony during the event.
The USDA’s Risk Management Agency is implementing multiple changes to the Camelina pilot insurance program for the 2026 and succeeding crop years. The changes will expand coverage options and provide greater flexibility for producers.
President Trump on July 4 signed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” The legislation extends and updates the 45Z credit and revives a tax credit benefiting small biodiesel producers but repeals several other bioenergy-related tax incentives.
CARB on June 27 announced amendments to the state’s LCFS regulations will take effect beginning on July 1. The amended regulations were approved by the agency in November 2024, but implementation was delayed due to regulatory clarity issues.
SAF Magazine and the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative announced the preliminary agenda for the North American SAF Conference and Expo, being held Sept. 22-24 at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.