Our History

Clean Fuels Alliance America is the national trade association representing the biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel industries. Clean Fuels works to create sustainable industry growth through education, communication, governmental affairs, technical, and quality assurance programs. Serving as the coordinating body for research and development in the U.S., the member driven organization represents the entire biodiesel and renewable diesel supply chain and is comprised of state, national and international feedstock and feedstock processor organizations, biodiesel and renewable diesel suppliers, fuel marketers, distributors, and technology providers.

Clean Fuels is a nonprofit organization based in Jefferson City, Missouri. State soybean commodity groups, who funded several biodiesel research and development programs with checkoff dollars, founded the National SoyDiesel Development Board in 1992. The board changed its name to the National Biodiesel Board in 1994 to reflect the preferred name for the fuel, since it can be made from any fat or vegetable oil. The board subsequently changed its name in 2021 to Clean Fuels Alliance America to reflect the organization’s position as a proven, innovative part of America’s clean energy mix, representing all its industry members: biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuels.

Membership of Clean Fuels has grown significantly. Starting with seven members in 1992, Clean Fuels now counts for more than 100 companies. These companies vary from Fortune 100 companies to small, family-owned production companies. This diverse membership base has provided a strong base for the industry to solicit and gain the support of Congress. With member companies representing nearly all 50 states, biodiesel and renewable diesel is a national commodity.

During the last thirty years, the biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel industries have achieved many major milestones:

1990

The University of Missouri and the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council fund a study to demonstrate the use of soy-based mono-alkyl esters as a diesel fuel replacement.
1992

The National SoyDiesel Development Board was founded by Qualified State Soybean Boards from Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, and South Dakota to coordinate state and national development efforts.
1993

Dozens of biodiesel demonstrations begin, including Lambert International Airport (St. Louis), New Jersey Highway Dept., and U.S. Postal Service.
1994

Recognizing value of diversity, the Board of Directors vote to change the name from the National SoyDiesel Development Board to the National Biodiesel Board.
1996

Two major biodiesel fuel suppliers register with EPA.
1998

President Clinton signs Executive Order 13101, giving preference to bio-based products for federal government use.

Congress approves biodiesel use for compliance with the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct).
1999

President Clinton signs Executive Order 13134, calling for the expanded use of bio-based fuels such as biodiesel.

The US biodiesel industry produces 500,000 gallons.
2000

Biodiesel becomes the only alternative fuel to successfully complete the EPA's Tier I and Tier II Health Effects testing under the Clean Air Act.
2001

The National Biodiesel Accreditation Board (NBAC) is established as a cooperative and voluntary program for the accreditation of producers and marketers of biodiesel fuel through NBB's BQ-9000 program.

The Defense Energy Support Center (DESC) buys 1.5 million gallons of B20 for use at government sites throughout the U.S., marking an increased commitment for government use of biodiesel.

ASTM approves full biodiesel fuel specification (D 6751).
2002

Groundbreaking biodiesel legislation becomes law in Minnesota, requiring the inclusion of 2 percent soy-based biodiesel (B2) into the majority of Minnesota's diesel pool.

The Senate version of the Energy Bill includes the first-ever proposed biodiesel tax incentive, giving the fuel a one-cent exemption per percentage of biodiesel, up to 20 percent.
2003

The National Biodiesel Board prepares for its first-ever biodiesel conference and expo, set to take place in Palm Springs, CA in February 2004.
2004

The biodiesel tax credit is first enacted as part of HR 4250, the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004.
2005

President Bush signs legislation establishing a tax incentive for biodiesel.

Minnesota landmark B2 standard is implemented.
2006

The National Biodiesel Board opens its Washington D.C. office. The office is committed to raising awareness of biodiesel successes, while advancing positive federal energy policy.

The National Biodiesel Board trademark's the term Bioheat® fuel.
2007

The National Biodiesel Board adopts a new board structure to help ensure its ability to speak with one voice. The structure streamlines and clarifies membership categories, guarantees more biodiesel producer seats on the Governing Board, and envisions a greater proportion of producer leaders over time.

The National Biodiesel Board launches its Political Action Committee.

The National Biodiesel Foundation is reestablished and becomes active in developing resources to support the biodiesel industry.

The U.S. biodiesel industry produces 500 million gallons of fuel.
2008

President Bush signs legislation including biomass-based diesel in the renewable fuel standard (RFS2).

The National Biodiesel Board opens its new "green" headquarters office in Jefferson City, Missouri. The refurbished building offers motion-activated lighting, high-recycled content carpet, skylights, low VOC paint, and solar powered security lighting in the parking lot.

ASTM passes new specification, one that allows for diesel to contain up to B5, and another that sets a new specification for blends of B6 – B20.
2009

Pennsylvania and Oregon implement statewide 2 percent biodiesel requirements for on-road diesel fuel.
2010

The RFS2 program officially goes into effect. The RFS program sets annual minimum percentage standards for renewable transportation fuels.

The California Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) is implemented. The LCFS program is designed to achieve a 10 percent carbon reduction in transportation fuels by 2020.
2011

Biodiesel becomes the first commercial-scale advanced biofuel in the RFS program, as defined by the EPA.

The Oregon statewide 2 percent biodiesel requirement for on-road diesel fuel increases to 5 percent.
2012

The National Biodiesel Board celebrates its 20th year.

New York City implements a citywide 2 percent Bioheat® fuel requirement.
2013

The U.S. biodiesel industry's production exceeds 1 billion gallons of fuel.
2014

The Minnesota statewide biodiesel requirement increases to B10.

Rhode Island implements a statewide 2 percent Bioheat® fuel requirement.

New York City implements a 5 percent biodiesel requirement for all city-owned buildings, vehicles and diesel equipment.
2015

The Rhode Island statewide Bioheat® fuel requirement increases to 3 percent.

Oregon implements a Clean Fuels Program designed to achieve a 10 percent carbon reduction for all transportation fuels by 2025.

California passes a "re-adopted" Low Carbon Fuel Standard with updated lifecycle values. All forms of domestic biodiesel are found to be at least 50 percent better than petroleum diesel.

ASTM passed B6-B20 grade in traditional heating oil specification, ASTM D396.
2016

The US market for biodiesel and renewable diesel reaches 2.9 billion gallons. New York City passes legislation to implement a citywide B20 Bioheat® fuel requirement by 2034, beginning with B5 in 2016.
2017

The Rhode Island statewide Bioheat® fuel requirement increases to 4 percent.

New York City's biodiesel and Bioheat® fuel minimum requirements move up to B5 city-wide.

NBB's BQ-9000 program reaches 50 producers, 45 marketers and 13 labs.

"Hot Grease" documentary airs on Discovery Channel.

Industry continues to operate despite no tax credit, record-high biodiesel imports from foreign markets, flat volumes of biomass-based diesel for 2019 finalized by the EPA, and an EPA proposal to cut already finalized volumes from prior years separate from the annual standard-setting.

After wins with the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission, final countervailing duty orders are issued to address unfair subsidization of biodiesel imports in Argentina and Indonesia.

The Rhode Island statewide Bioheat® fuel requirement increases to 5 percent.
2018

Minnesota moves to B20 minimum amount of biomass-based diesel.

The National Biodiesel Board commemorates a decade of growth in their Jefferson City "green" building headquarters and celebrates 25 years as a national trade association.
2019

Congress passes multi-year extension of the Biodiesel Blenders' Tax Credit. Funding covers two years retroactively and 3 years prospectively, providing the industry the most certainty since the legislation was originally passed.

California Water Board approves B20 storage in all underground storage tanks (USTs) enabling uniform approvals for B20 storage across the U.S.

The Northeast Heating Coalition adopts the "Providence Resolution" to reduce industry emissions to net zero by 2050, achieved primarily through adoption of biodiesel and renewable diesel industry wide.

NBB opened its West Coast office in Sacramento, CA to focus on the growing biodiesel and renewable diesel markets in California, Oregon, Washington, and Canada.
2020

NBB unveiled its Vision 2020 that contained the goal of doubling market to 6 billion gallons by 2030, achieving 35 million metric tons of carbon savings.

U.S. market hits 3 billion gallons, with 79% domestic production. Over 9 billion pounds of soybean oil used as feedstock. California alone, consumed 1 billion gallons of biomass-based diesel for the first time.

NBB opened its East Coast office in Boston, MA to focus on the growing Bioheat® fuel market and other carbon reduction efforts developing in the Northeast states.

UL publishes updated heating oil equipment listing procedures for B20 and several equipment companies announce B20 support and certifications for new equipment moving forward.
2021

The board approved to a new name for the National Biodiesel Board to Clean Fuels Alliance America to reflect the organization’s position as a proven, innovative part of America’s clean energy mix, representing all its industry members: biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuels.
2022

Our History

The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) is now Clean Fuels Alliance America.