Biodiesel works into the nation’s fuel supply

Bakersfield, CA— Only three weeks after Governor Schwarzenegger of California signed into law a proposal authored by State Senator Roy Ashburn (R-Bakersfield) that would allow public agencies and utilities to use vehicles that run off of biodiesel and biodiesel blends, the American Trucking Association advocated the use of biodiesel.

On October 21, 2005, the American Trucking Associations’ board of directors revised ATA’s alternative fuels policy to advocate the use of biodiesel in blends up to five percent as part of the national diesel fuel standard.

ATA’s energy policy calls for a single national diesel fuel.

At current prices, the trucking industry, which consumes 35 billion gallons of diesel each year, is on pace to spend an unprecedented $85 billion on fuel this year, that accounts for as much as 25 percent of total operating costs.

The American Trucking Association is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. ATA represents more than 37,000 members covering every type of motor carrier in the United States.

American Biofuels had recently announced that it was expanding its biodiesel plant to 10 million gallons per year to accommodate California’s increased need for biodiesel.