A report by the American Lung Association says that the air in America is pretty bad. But local associations of that parent organization believe that biodiesel is key to cleaning it up.
The State of the Air Report 2009 was shown during the American Lung Association of the District of Columbia’s recent (ALADC) news conference, as touted in this National Biodiesel Board press release:
“Give your support to any effort to advance technology that emit lower levels of pollution like biodiesel,” said [Professor of Environmental and Occupational Medicine at the Howard University College of Medicine and Vice Chairman-Elect of ALADC Dr. Bailus Walker, Jr.]. He also showed attendees the Journal of Inhalation and Toxicology published issue on biodiesel that resulted from a summit the ALADC and the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest convened in 2006.
National Biodiesel Board member Ben Wootton of Keystone Biodiesel attended the ALADC news conference. The company will be supplying fuel for the District of Columbia, which is preparing to switch to a biodiesel blend. Wootton, an asthma sufferer, became interested in working in the biodiesel industry after learning about biodiesel’s air quality benefits.
Biodiesel is a sustainable, renewable alternative to diesel fuel that reduces most regulated emissions substantially, including carbon monoxide, particulate matter and unburned hydrocarbons.
“With biodiesel, America can produce its own cleaner-burning diesel alternative that helps clean up the air with existing vehicles,” said Joe Jobe, National Biodiesel Board CEO. “Biodiesel is a natural solution to help achieve lung associations’ goals to reduce air pollution and safeguard our health. We are grateful for their support and applaud their vision for a cleaner future.”
The NBB points out that biodiesel reduces air toxins by 90 percent and significantly cuts down on the compounds linked to cancer. In addition, breathing the smoke from petroleum diesel exhaust can trigger an asthma attack, while biodiesel reduces that particulate matter triggering those attacks up to 40 percent.
Meeting the challenge of providing the world’s food, feed, fiber and, especially, fuel is what’s facing the American farmer today, and it’s part of a competition the Farm Foundation is sponsoring.
Transportation Studies
During a recent session of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce aviation forum, 
More than 30 organizations are requesting an extension of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) comment period for a petition that would increase the permitted amount of ethanol in gasoline from its current 10 percent level to 15 percent. The organizations signing on to the request range from livestock and meat associations to food processors, environmental groups and representatives of boats and small engine makers. 
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Fourteen southern African nations are now members of the 
“Biofuels represent an enormous opportunity for developing countries particularly those reliant on crude imports,” Makenete explained. “A sustainable biofuels industry utilizing multiple feedstocks will attract investments in agriculture, reduce our reliance on imported energy and improve income levels. This is a win, win, win for developing countries.”
“This project fits well into our focus on infrastructure as we’re working to stimulate economic development. This building is a great visual,” Culver said. “With the passing of this bill, we’re encouraging a project that illustrates what we’re also trying to do around the state with the public infrastructure. Projects like this are critically important during this economic downtime. This is how we will literally work our way to recovery.”