The National Biodiesel Board is jumping on an article that seems to be more in the ballpark of its cellulosic ethanol cousins. In a letter to the editor of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, NBB Chief Executive Officer Joe Jobe takes issue with what he calls are “some dubious conclusions” of the Associated Press’ “Fuels from corn waste not better than gas” article that slams cellulosic ethanol made from corn stover. But Jobe says a bigger point is missed in the article: how biodiesel is America’s first nationally distributed advanced biofuel and is working right now.

Last year, the domestic biodiesel industry produced 1.7 billion gallons of renewable fuel, filling the vast majority of the EPA’s advanced biofuel volume requirements under the federal Renewable Fuel Standard.

The RFS was created by a bipartisan coalition in Congress. They recognized moving away from a singular reliance on petroleum for transportation fuel needs is paramount to America’s national security, economic and environmental interests. It has helped biodiesel — made in communities across the country from recycled cooking oil, animal fats and abundant vegetable oils — become an American success story.

Jobe goes on to point out that this country is importing less oil than at any time since 1991, and biodiesel is a big reason why that is happening. He also makes the case how biodiesel is “diversifying our transportation fuel portfolio and creating options,” while reducing carbon pollution by as much as 86 percent compared to petroleum diesel.