ANKENY, IOWA (December 7, 2023) — The Iowa Biodiesel Board and Iowa Soybean Association today commended the introduction of the Renewable Fuel for Ocean-Going Vessels Act, sponsored by Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA).
Co-sponsored by Rep John Garamendi (D-CA), the bipartisan bill would allow biodiesel used in ocean-going vessels to be eligible for counting toward existing federal Renewable Fuel Standard requirements. It accomplishes this by adding “fuel for ocean-going vessels” to the “Additional renewable fuel” section of the Clean Air Act, essentially treating marine applications identical to home heating oil and jet fuel.
Grant Kimberley, executive director of IBB, issued the following statement:
“We applaud Rep Miller-Meeks for taking a leadership role in making this important, common-sense fix to the RFS. The commitments to decarbonizing the transportation sector are the strongest we’ve ever seen, and that includes the marine industry. We all have an interest in encouraging ocean-going vessels to reduce the marine industry’s greenhouse-gas impact through the use of biodiesel.”
Suzanne Shirbroun, ISA president and a soybean farmer from Farmersburg, Iowa, issued the following statement:“By some estimates, sustainable marine fuel is poised to cross 325 billion dollars by 2036, and it’s in everyone’s interest that soybean farmers and biodiesel producers capture some of that the value. When farmers participate in the energy market through greater demand for soybean oil, the farm economy becomes diversified and stronger. We thank Rep Miller-Meeks for having the foresight to encourage the blue-water marine fleet to use biodiesel in its fuel, which will reduce GHG emissions and improve air quality around ports while strengthening the farm economy.”
International ships use 2.3 billion gallons of US distillate fuel each year, according to the Energy Information Administration. As a co-lead of the international Zero-Emissions Shipping Mission, the US Department of Energy recognizes biodiesel and renewable diesel as sustainable drop-in marine fuels that can achieve immediate carbon reductions in the sector.
About the Iowa Biodiesel Board
The Iowa Biodiesel Board represents the biodiesel industry in Iowa, from the farmers who grow the feedstock, to production, through distribution to end users. Founded by the Iowa Soybean Association, IBB operates an independent organization and board. The IBB works to promote the commercial and economic success of biodiesel in Iowa. For more, visit IowaBiodiesel.org.
About the Iowa Soybean Association
The Iowa Soybean Association is driven to deliver increased soybean demand through market development and new uses, farmer-focused research and results, timely information and know-how, and policy initiatives enabling farmers and the industry to flourish. For more, visit IAsoybeans.com.
