Much of this week’s National Biodiesel Board (NBB) annual conference focused on the ongoing challenges and uncertainty with the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The biodiesel industry continues to wait and push for a final determination by EPA and the Obama Administration on the RFS volume requirements for 2014 - which has already passed - as well as the 2015 and future year volume requirements.

ASA Board Member Mike Cunningham (IL), ASA Washington staff and numerous state soybean directors, staff and soybean farmers participated in the conference and trade show in Ft. Worth, Texas.

While the industry, its stakeholders and supporters have successfully pushed back against the initial proposal that would have taken the biodiesel industry backward from the production levels it has achieved in 2013 and 2014, the industry is being crippled by the uncertainty that comes with the lack of a final determination on the annual volume requirements.

NBB CEO Joe Jobe said to the conference attendees that the goal for 2015 is to get the RFS back on track and that despite the attacks and criticisms leveled against the RFS and the biofuels industry, the truth is on the side of biodiesel.

Jobe said the RFS is good policy and "2015 has to be the year we get back to the future of this program and out of the uncertainty of the past."  These points were reiterated by former Sen. Byron Dorgan and former Representative Kenny Hulshof, who addressed the conference and provided their perspective as members of the biodiesel advocacy team that are using their experience to help carry the message to the Administration and Congress in this difficult and sometimes dysfunctional political landscape. Another highlight from the conference was a video message delivered from Sen. Al Franken (D-MN), who was presented with NBB's Impact Award for his leadership and advocacy in support of the biodiesel industry in 2014.