The National Biodiesel Board built a new green building for its new headquarters, according to an NBB news release. Excerpt below the fold:
The carpet comes from recycled materials. The paint is nontoxic. The parking lot lights are powered by the sun. But what really makes the new headquarters of the National Biodiesel Board so eco-conscious is the work that goes on inside.
Yesterday Governor Matt Blunt, U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof and Jefferson City Mayor John Landwehr joined the NBB in a ribbon-cutting and tree-planting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the organization’s new headquarters at 605 Clark Avenue.
“We may be a national organization, but our roots have always been here in Missouri,” said Joe Jobe, NBB CEO. “Our industry plays a critical role nationally in meeting our energy needs, creating thousands of green jobs and millions of gallons of clean-burning fuel. Our rapid industry growth was reflected in our staff growth, prompting the need for new headquarters.” Biodiesel is a renewable fuel made from resources such as soybean oil, recycled restaurant grease and other plant oils and waste products. Last year, the industry produced 500 million gallons of biodiesel, up from 25 million gallons in 2004. The industry has consistently doubled or tripled production every year since then. Today there are 171 biodiesel plants nationwide, including seven in Missouri.
“We have made Missouri a national leader in alternative fuels and renewable energy,” Gov. Blunt said. “The National Biodiesel Board’s decision to strengthen their presence in our state underscores just how critical Missouri is to supplying our nation with clean, renewable energy.” Biodiesel can be used in any diesel engine in a blend of up to 20 percent with no engine modifications. Its use reduces emissions, including lifecycle carbon dioxide, by 78 percent.
“I truly believe biodiesel is a sustainable fuel that is a vital part of our energy solution,” Rep. Hulshof said. “Never underestimate the ingenuity of the American farmer, who can provide both food and fuel from right here in the heartland, while cleaning up the air we breathe.”
Nine NBB governing board members joined the event from throughout the country, including Chairman Ed Hegland, a soybean farmer from Appleton, Minn. He pointed out that oil and gasoline prices would be about 15% higher if biofuel producers were not increasing their output, according to a U.S. Department of Energy estimate.
“Despite our higher petroleum costs, technological advances are allowing America’s family farmers, like me, to produce much more efficient harvests,” Hegland said. “Last year, the U.S. biodiesel industry displaced 20 million barrels of petroleum. Our annual contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions is now equal to removing 700,000 passenger vehicles from America’s roadways.”
