An annual national poll of registered voters released by the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) indicates that a candidate’s support for policies to promote clean energy, including biodiesel and renewable diesel use, can influence voters.

The annual poll, which is designed to measure awareness of and attitudes toward biodiesel and federal policies that support the industry, found a strong majority of the polled registered voters (81%) indicated that a candidate’s position on renewable fuels is important, 86% of respondents said a candidate’s position on clean energy is important or very important to their voting preferences, and 85% agreed that it is important that President Donald Trump keep his promises on the RFS.

Among the respondents, nearly three-quarters (73%) had previously heard some information about biodiesel. More than half (57%) of all respondents agreed that federal policy should encourage use of biodiesel and renewable diesel. When asked if federal policy should support petroleum, 45% said “no,” while only 34% said “yes.”

Nearly four of every five respondents expressed support for existing federal programs that encourage increased production and use of advanced biofuels. Seventy-eight percent (78%) of respondents support the federal tax incentive for biodiesel, and 79% support the Renewable Fuel Standard. Additionally, 79% of respondents would encourage local communities and governments to promote use of biodiesel.

NBB Vice President of Federal Affairs Kurt Kovarik says President Trump’s commitment to expand use of biofuels and uphold the Renewable Fuel Standard is clearly important to voters. Listen to an interview with Kovarik about the biodiesel industry’s reaction to the biofuels plan released by the administration last week.