U.S. Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) is the sponsor of a new measure designed to ensure that a portion of America’s future diesel fuel supply is renewable.

In a release from the National Biodiesel Board (of course, the NBB heartily endorses this bill), the Biodiesel Promotion and Quality Assurance Act would up the amount of biodiesel and “bio-based replacement diesel” that refiners blend into diesel to 1.25 billion gallons by 2012:

“Biodiesel is a fuel that holds great promise in terms of moving our country toward energy independence,” Durbin said. “This bill will create incentives for producers and consumers alike and will allow this important alternative fuel source the chance to become a mainstream alternative to foreign oil.”

Senators Charles Grassley (R-IA), Thomas Carper (D-DE) and Richard Lugar (R-IN) are co-sponsoring the bill. And as mentioned above, the measure has the endorsement of the NBB:

“This legislation would set a floor for biodiesel demand, which will help ensure that the promising biodiesel industry continues delivering benefits to America,” said Joe Jobe, NBB CEO. “In addition to economic growth and pollution reduction, biodiesel delivers fuel refining capacity, something this nation desperately needs. Having a demand floor in place will help provide needed stability and reduce our dependence on foreign oil, which benefits all Americans.”

If passed, oil refiners would blend 450 million gallons of biodiesel and bio-based replacement diesel starting next year with the 1.25 billion gallon goal by 2012. The biodiesel would also be required to be registered through the Environmental Protection Agency in line with the Clean Air Act, and would have to have an ASTM standard. There would also be a federal inspection program to ensure quality standards set by ASTM.