New quality specifications for 6-20 percent blends of biodiesel have been unveiled by ASTM, the organization that standardizes specifications for products in the marketplace.
This press release from the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) says the standards came during ASTM meetings this week in Phoenix after six years of collaboration by industry representatives and will mean more automakers will approve B20 in their engines:
“This is a huge step forward for the biodiesel industry, as major engine companies and petroleum refiners joined the biodiesel industry in voting for passage of this ballot,” said Steve Howell, chairman of the ASTM Biodiesel Task Force. “We have known for years that B20 made with in-spec biodiesel is a good quality, reliable fuel, but OEMs, regulators and customers have demanded formal ASTM passage of a B20 blend spec in order to broaden their support for biodiesel blends. The biodiesel industry is delivering that.”
The majority of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) view the adoption of an ASTM blended fuel specification as a key component for full, universal acceptance of B20, a blend of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent petrodiesel. Chrysler has previously announced the company plans to issue formal support for B20 once ASTM has formally approved B20 specifications.
The measure will still need approval by the ASTM’s Main Committee when it meets in June.
In urging Senators to block a vote on the bill, Sen. Pete Domenici of New Mexico, the ranking Republican on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, argued: “This is not a good bill, but it can be turned into a great bill.”
Hurt sees continual price rises in the corn, soybean and wheat markets through 2010 with a gradual settling leading up to that time and then a leveling off period.
The two biggest biodiesel producers in Wisconsin have combined forces to put the state’s second largest biodiesel plant online by the end of the year.
Commending those supporting this shift in energy policy direction in this country, Renewable Fuels Association President Bob Dinneen issued the following statement:
The upcoming National Biodiesel Board’s 2008 National Biodiesel Conference & Expo, February 3-6th at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, will be focusing on developing the feedstocks to make the green fuel.
The National Biodiesel Board has joined some key members of the House Agriculture Committee to rally for the expansion of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS).
The Energy Bill scheduled for consideration in the U.S. House contains a provision to use clean-burning, domestically produced renewable fuels to promote energy independence by expanding the existing RFS to 36 billion gallons by 2022. The proposal would also provide for a renewable requirement in diesel fuel. It would be met by biodiesel and other biomass-based diesel fuels. The legislation specifically requires that 500 million gallons of biodiesel and biomass-based diesel fuel be blended into the diesel pool in 2009, gradually ramping up to one billion gallons by 2012.
A new study released today by the 
Members of Congress and representatives from a variety of organizations held a media event Wednesday morning in support of an increased Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) in the Energy Bill.
Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY) described his conversion to being an ethanol supporter. “As a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee for many years I voted against the ethanol mandate,” Engel said. “I changed my position 180 degrees, and I changed my position because it’s good for America.”
All of the speakers noted the importance of the RFS to cellulosic ethanol development, which is still in its infancy. In the meantime, Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD) said, “Conventional corn ethanol is the bridge we need to move forward.”
Vanderbilt University is the recipient of a $100,000 grant from Japanese auto components supplier, DENSO Corporation to put in a state-of-the-art biodiesel tester.