The National Biodiesel Board seems happy with what it heard from USDA regarding what the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS-2) will bring in the future.

Members of the NBB’s Governing Board had a meeting today with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack:

“Implementation of a workable RFS-2 program is consistent with a national energy strategy that values the replacement of petroleum diesel with domestically-produced low carbon fuel,” stated Joe Jobe, NBB CEO. “Secretary Vilsack clearly understands this, and the U.S. biodiesel industry applauds his leadership on this important issue.”

RFS-2, enacted as part of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, for the first time specifically requires the use of low carbon, renewable diesel replacement fuel. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently crafting the rule to implement this program. Under RFS-2, fuels must hit greenhouse gas (ghg) emission reduction targets to qualify for the program. The U.S. biodiesel industry is concerned that the methodology being employed by EPA to calculate the ghg emission profile of biodiesel produced from vegetable oils – particularly as it relates to Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) assumptions – is being based on inaccurate and unreliable assumptions. The result would be a program that disqualifies vegetable oil as a biodiesel feedstock, an outcome that would be make it impossible to meet the Advanced Biofuels targets established in RFS-2.

Jobe added that his group is looking forward to helping the Ag Secretary achieve a successful implementation of RFS-2.