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About Biodiesel
Biodiesel is a clean-burning, renewable fuel, produced from domestic, replenishable resources like soybeans, some non-food crops and sources such as used restaurant grease. Biodiesel contains no petroleum, but it can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create an alternative fuel blend for use in diesel engines with little or no modifications. The final percentage is indicated by a "B" factor, such as B11 for an 11 percent biodiesel blend, B20 for a 20 percent biodiesel blend and so on.
Most major engine companies in Illinois use B11 because of favorable tax implications; however, blends up to B20 are also acceptable. Biodiesel from soybeans is simple to use and offers several environmental benefits over standard petroleum diesel.
The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) estimates actual biodiesel consumption rose from 112 million gallons in 2005 to 545 million gallons in 2009. Despite this rising number, less than three percent of the nation's annual soybean harvest is used for U.S. biodiesel production, leaving ample supplies for soybean's myriad other uses, including human food and animal feed.
In Illinois, several soy biodiesel manufacturers and retailers market the fuel to farms, fleets, cities, companies and consumers. Biodiesel helps engine parts move better and last longer, so trucking companies and others can save money on repair costs with its use.
Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel to have successfully completed the health effects testing requirements of the Clean Air Act. Biodiesel completed EPA-required Tier I and Tier II testing, and conclusively demonstrated biodiesel's significant reduction of virtually all regulated emissions. Biodiesel does not pose a threat to human health.
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