[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 95 (Wednesday, June 13, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7652-S7653]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Carper, Mr. Lugar, 
        and Mr. Obama):
  S. 1616. A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to promote and assure the 
quality of biodiesel fuel, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation that 
would create a Federal biodiesel mandate and improve the quality and 
labeling of this product.

[[Page S7653]]

  Biodiesel fuel holds great promise to help move the United States 
toward energy independence. It is created by converting soybean oil, 
animal fats, and yellow grease and other feed stocks into 
transportation fuel.
  Compared to petrol diesel, biodiesel burns much more cleanly. 
Production of biodiesel creates jobs in rural areas and makes farming 
more profitable. The carbon footprint of biodiesel also is superior to 
petrol diesel. Cars and trucks fueled by biodiesel produce fewer 
unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and particulate 
matter.
  The biodiesel industry is young but growing, and its growth is driven 
by the rising cost of oil and a growing awareness of the need to move 
toward energy independence. In 2005, the United States produced 75 
million gallons of biodiesel. That number more than tripled in 2006, 
when the United States produced 250 million gallons of biodiesel.
  By the end of this year, we expect capacity to increase to more than 
1 billion gallons. More than 140 plants already produce biodiesel, and 
more are moving to production soon. Biodiesel fuel plants can be found 
all across the country, from the Corn Belt and Great Plains to the 
Pacific Northwest and the Mid-Atlantic.
  The bipartisan bill I am introducing today with Senators Grassley, 
Carper, Lugar, and Obama is a modest attempt to take advantage of this 
potential capacity and to reduce the amount of petroleum used in the 
60-billion-gallon diesel fuel pool. Under this bill, over the next 5 
years, the United States would blend 450 million gallons of biodiesel 
into diesel fuel in 2008, 625 million gallons in 2009, 800 million 
gallons in 2010, 1 billion gallons in 2011, and 1.25 billion gallons in 
2012.
  This mandate would create an incentive for the production and 
consumption of biodiesel and give this infant industry some market 
guarantees to help it achieve stability and maturity.
  Many States already are moving in the direction of biodiesel 
mandates. My home State of Illinois has offered a biodiesel tax 
incentive since 2003 that has increased demand for the product, and 
Minnesota has had a 2-percent biodiesel mandate since 2005.
  This is an environmentally friendly, home-grown fuel, and we should 
embrace its use. I thank Senators Grassley, Carper, Lugar, and Obama 
for their early support and urge others in the Senate to cosponsor our 
legislation.

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