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B11 Biodiesel
Help reduce our country's dependence on foreign oil by doing what you do every day!
You can make a difference whether you're buying, selling or distributing fuel, just by choosing American-made biodiesel. Each gallon you put in your vehicle means we need to import less foreign oil and gets us one step closer to energy independence. And now soy biodiesel blends like B11 are even easier to find, so the next time you're refueling, look for a pump with a biodiesel label!
For a complete list of retail fueling sites offering B11, visit the National Biodiesel Board's website, www.biodiesel.org. It features an easy-to-use tool that allows you to view, print and export lists of stations selling biodiesel across the country. You can even search by state to make sure you know where to get this sustainable fuel alternative close to home or wherever you're going!
Biodiesel Industry Shows Promise with Increased Production
The latest U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) statistics reveal that American biodiesel production attained a new monthly high in June: 81 million gallons! This figure expands the industry's continued growth to three consecutive months, which many attribute to the reinstatement of the biodiesel tax incentive in December of 2010. It also demonstrates the importance of extending the credit again before it expires at the end of 2011. In fact, a recent National Biodiesel Board news release stated that this increase would help "support more than 31,000 U.S. jobs and generate income of nearly $1.7 billion to be circulated throughout the economy. It also is expected to generate an estimated $345 million in federal tax revenue and $283 million in state and local tax revenues." The EPA has certified biodiesel as an Advanced Biofuel under the Renewable Fuel Standard-2 (RFS2), which requires that at least 800 million gallons of biomass-based diesel fuel be produced this year. Due to the tremendous benefit the biodiesel market offers to Illinois soybean farmers, ISA helps fund the Advanced Biofuels Initiative through the Illinois soybean checkoff.
Study Shows Biodiesel Provides Five-to-One Return on Energy
According to a July 22 news release, a new biofuel energy-balance study from the University of Idaho and the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows that biodiesel production is more efficient than ever. The study - "Energy Life-Cycle Assessment of Soybean Biodiesel Revisited" - explains that for "every unit of fossil energy needed to produce biodiesel, the return is 5.54 units of renewable energy." When compared to data from 2009, "the overall energy input reduction was 42 percent for the same amount of biodiesel produced." This energy balance increase is attributed to three main factors: production facilities are becoming more energy efficient, soybean farmers are using less energy and the continued increase in soybean yields.
Biodiesel Not Only Burns Cleaner But Faster, Too
On August 19, Brent Hajek, owner of Hajek Motorsports based in Ames, Okla., set a new land-speed record at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats… in a biodiesel-powered Ford F-250 Super Duty! Achieving an astounding 182 miles per hour on a B20 biodiesel blend, the 2011 pickup had no trouble breaking its earlier record of more than 171 miles per hour using regular diesel. Hajek, who also is a soybean farmer, was quoted stating, "I'm amazed at how, with very few changes from stock, we were able to accomplish this. I was also very impressed with the power of this truck running on B20, and the comparable fuel economy it achieved with both attempts. There were absolutely no performance downsides to running on B20, as evidenced by the fact that I was able to push the truck to an even faster speed running on the B20 blend."
Illinois Government a Role Model for Biodiesel Efforts
Leading the nation in biodiesel consumption, the state of Illinois is an innovator when it comes to promoting this renewable, eco-friendly fuel alternative.
- Legislation passed in 2003 provides a tax incentive for the use of biodiesel blends.
- B1 to B10 purchases receive a partial sales tax exemption of 20 percent (off 6.25 percent).
- B11 and higher qualifies for a complete exemption from the state's 6.25 percent sales tax.
- Learn more about the state and federal tax incentives for biodiesel here.
- Originally set at two percent in 2003, a 2009 mandate now requires the use of B5 in all state-owned, diesel-powered vehicles.
