Daily News—12/17/09

Only short-term extension of biodiesel tax credit expected this year

The National Biodiesel Board seems to be conceding defeat for a long-term extension of the the biodiesel blender tax credit … but the group seems to be holding out hope for a one-year extension of the incentive set to expire after Dec. 31, 2009.

The U.S. House has already passed the tax extender package in H.R. 4213, which included a one-year extension of the biodiesel blender tax credit. Biodiesel Magazine reports now they have to get the Senate to agree:

Why does this remind me of the health care reform debate? The industry hopefully will get another year of extension on the tax credit, and I think this administration is up for that.

Biodiesel Action Alert Issued: of interest to our readers

Photo from: http://www.cicca.org/fuelblends.html

The American Soybean Association has issued an action alert. With the biodiesel tax incentive expiring at the end of this month, the ASA says it is imperative that Congress extend the incentive before adjourning for the year. Therefore the ASA is specifically, urging that the biodiesel tax incentive extension be included in the pending Department of Defense Appropriations bill. The bill could be the last legislative vehicle enacted by Congress before it adjourns for the year.

As part of ASA's action alert the organization is asking for its members and supporters to call their Senators and Representative and ask them to contact their respective leadership to stress that the biodiesel tax incentive extension must be enacted before Congress adjourns for the year.

ASA says absent the biodiesel tax incentive, biodiesel production and consumption in the U.S. will come to a halt, and that from a nationwide standpoint, the job creation, energy security and environmental benefits associated with domestic biodiesel production and use will be lost.

This is pretty serious, if you have one more good letter in you, here’s a chance to be heard. We need the jobs and the clean fuel of biodiesel to help clear the aid and our heads of the petrol fog.

Truck stop operators urge extension of biodiesel tax credit

Photo from: http://www.bloomingtontransit.com/Pictures.htm

Lisa Mullings, National Association of Truck Stop Operators (NATSO) president and chief executive officer, urged US Senate leaders to quickly extend the biodiesel tax credit before it expires December 31. An extension would ensure an affordable biodiesel supply for the nation’s 3.5 million truck drivers and secure the environmental investments of the nation’s truckstops and travel plazas.

Mullings said extending the tax credit will increase biodiesel production while spurring retail investment in the infrastructure necessary to supply biodiesel to commercial carriers and the motoring public. Her request came just days after the US House of Representatives passed a one-year extension of the current $1 per gallon tax blender credit for biodiesel.

This is an American industry that can mean a lot to farmers and truckers and everyone associated with diesel engines. If you have a voice, let the government hear it—we need biodiesel to stay strong.

Making great jobs at the local level, Auburn BioDiesel board meets with Montezuma citizens

Photo from: http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2009/10/stimulus_money_sought_for_comp.html

Members of Auburn BioDiesel's board met with more than 40 Montezuma residents at the Country House Restaurant for an informational session Wednesday night.

David J. Colegrove, company president, and board member Mark Ranieri represented the company.
Colegrove said the company will be hiring skilled workers at salaries of about $60,000 per year, with an additional $18,000 which they can elect to use for health coverage.
“We plan to run a successful business and to share with people,” he said, even suggesting stock options for employees.

These are some great jobs, $60K a year plus benefits, all right here in the good old USA. Sometimes, there almost seems to be a green oil rush in the making, and this story is one of them.

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