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Saturday is National Biodiesel Day

The National Biodiesel Board is bringing attention to the renewable fuel’s contribution to the U.S. economy by proclaiming Saturday, March 18, as National Biodiesel Day.  It’s the birthday of Rudolf Diesel, inventor of the engine that bears his name.  National Biodiesel Board CEO Donnell Rehagen tells Brownfield the observation brings attention to biodiesel.

“It’s important to raise the awareness of the value of having alternatives at the pump, and in our case, biodiesel, an alternative to diesel fuel,” said Rehagen, “and also the fact that biodiesel is a renewable fuel, an agriculturally-based fuel, and provides a lot of value to the U.S. economy in a number of different ways.”

Rudolf Diesel ran early models of his engine on peanut oil.  Rehagen says modern biodiesel was developed by farmers looking for a market for surplus soybean oil.

“We’re able to take that oil portion that may not have had much of a use a number of years ago, or a limited use, and be able to create a high level of value for that product,” he said.

Every year in the U.S., nearly 3 billion gallons of the renewable fuel replace petroleum diesel fuel and, according to National Biodiesel Board figures, creates about 64,000 jobs.

AUDIO: Donnell Rehagen (7 min. MP3)