(L-R) Tom Verry, National Biodiesel Board; Mike Cunningham (IL),  ASA rep to NBB, NBB Governig Board Member

This week, the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) held its annual industry conference in Tampa,

Florida. Attendees included American Soybean Association (ASA) Board Members Mike Cunningham (IL) and Jerry Bambauer (OH), ASA’s Washington, D.C. staff, numerous state soybean association representatives and soybean industry partners. ASA Board Member, Cunningham serves on the NBB Governing Board and Chair of the National Biodiesel Foundation.

The conference focused on the growing prominence of biodiesel across the nation, the policy accomplishments regarding the RFS, biodiesel tax credit, the significant contributions the industry is making toward reduced greenhouse gas emissions and the future challenges the industry faces as imports of foreign biodiesel and renewable diesel continue to grow.

During the event, it was announced that Peterbuilt and Kenworth manufacturer, PACCAR Inc., will now allow all of their vehicles to use B20 biodiesel. PACCAR has over 100,000 vehicles and they travel over 12 billion miles a year which makes this a welcome addition to the biodiesel industry.

A highlight of the event consisted of the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award, which went to Mike Livergood, Vice President, Archer Daniels Midland Company for over four decades in the biodiesel field and his continued effort to further the success of the biodiesel industry.

ASA will continue to play an active and vital role in support of the biodiesel policy issues in 2016, such as extending the tax credit beyond this year and shifting it to a production credit; which would maximize benefits, create opportunities for U.S. biodiesel production and U.S. soybean farmers.