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Maui County Council Vice Chair Don Guzman, who proposed the tax exemption, shows his support for the biodiesel price rollback with Kelly and Bob King, Pacific Biodiesel founders, and Councilmember Don Couch. Photo: Pacific Biodiesel Technologies

Maui drivers using #biodiesel have a reason to celebrate today as city eliminated its 9 cents per gallon on-road biodiesel fuel tax effective July 1, 2016. In response, Maui’s own Pacific Biodiesel rolled back biodiesel prices at the pump 9 cents. The fate of the tax was uncertain when earlier this year the Maui County mayor’s budget actually requested the tax be raised to 11.5 cents per gallon. However, upon discovering that biodiesel sales were minimal when compared to petroleum sales, Maui County Council Vice Chair Don Guzman proposed the tax be eliminated altogether.

Pacific Biodiesel President and Founder Bob King noted that this sends a strong message of support for renewables in Maui and throughout the state where other counties have ongoing tax exemptions for biodiesel. It should be noted that Hawaii has the largest prices for energy of all 50 U.S. states.

“In Maui County, increasing the tax on biodiesel to 11.5 cents per gallon would have generated less than $50,000 in annual revenue—that’s a drop in the bucket of the county’s budget,” said King. “With the effects of climate change already upon us, it’s taxing the renewable fuel solution and not the problem—petroleum emissions. Our state is committed to a renewable energy future and Maui needs to step up.”

To celebrate the tax exemption, Pacific Biodiesel hosted a price roll-back event at the company’s Kahului pump. Guzman and Councilmember Don Couch were in attendance. Also on hand for the event was Pacific Biodiesel customer David Sellers, a local business owner, former staff of The Nature Conservancy, and longtime biodiesel advocate.

“Biodiesel is the best thing for our environment. And the money stays here on island and helps our community,” noted Sellers. “As a business owner, I like to spend money locally. I’ve been a Pacific Biodiesel supporter for years and I run biodiesel in generators, boats, trucks—you name it. We’re fortunate to have this as a resource here in Hawaii. And anything that can be done locally to lower the price to make it more adoptable to other people is a good thing.” Read More

The National Biodiesel Foundation (NBF) has elected Lindsay Fitzgerald who works for Ames, Iowa-based Renewable Energy Group (REG), to its executive committee. NBF was created to advanced initiatives important to the commercial biodiesel industry.

“I am excited to be a part of such an amazing Foundation that focuses on biodiesel research and education. Over the past several years, REG has been a constant supporter and donor to the Foundation, and I have seen the benefits first hand,” said Fitzgerald. “Now is a perfect opportunity to become fully involved in the NBF’s daily activities and decision making.”

 Fitzgerald is based out of Washington, DC and joins the NBF on behalf of REG.  Prior to joining REG, she worked on Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) implementation at the National Biodiesel Board (NBB)  as Director of Regulatory Affairs, and before that at the US Environmental Protection Agency.

“We thank Lindsay and REG for volunteering her time and experience to the Foundation.  We look forward to working with her over the next several years,” added NBF President Mike Cunningham. “Through donations to the Foundation, we are able to support important research and educational activities needed for biodiesel’s growth.”