Soybeans can power the world.

With Clean Fuels Alliance America (Clean Fuels) at the helm, biodiesel and renewable diesel can be “recognized as mainstream low-carbon fuel options with superior performance and emission characteristics.”

Clean Fuels, formerly known as the National Biodiesel Board, represents the biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel industries by coordinating technical, environmental and quality assurance programs for the industry.

As a valued Clean Fuels member, the Wisconsin Soybean Association (WSA) and the Wisconsin Soybean Programs (WSP) is helping make waves in the biofuels industry.

This week, Clean Fuels hosted its annual membership meeting in Washington, D.C., where attendees also participated in Hill Visits with lawmakers. Priorities during the Hill Visits included Clean Fuel’s Fair Trade Coalition, the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), tax incentive implementation and the 2023 Farm Bill.

“It’s a great opportunity to sit down with our elected officials and have a conversation with them about policies that affect Wisconsin soybean growers,” said Adam Kask, WSP’s manager of strategic programs.

The entire agriculture community has its eyes on the upcoming Farm Bill.

Clean Fuels has two main priorities for the next Farm Bill: continue USDA’s successful infrastructure program and extend the Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels. By increasing consumer access to biodiesel by 1 billion gallons per year, USDA’s Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive program reduced CO2 emissions by 9.4 million metric tons per year, costing just $2.67 per ton in the first year. The Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels reduces America’s dependence on foreign imports by increasing the supply of advanced biofuels, such as biodiesel, while simultaneously reducing carbon emissions.

“The 2023 Farm Bill is at the forefront of our mind,” Kask said. “Making sure that our legislators know where we stand when it comes to biofuels is critical to ensuring that Wisconsin soybeans remain valuable. Partnering with Clean Fuels gives us a platform to stand on and provides us with the expertise needed to amplify our voices.”

While meeting with their elected representatives – including Sen. Tammy Baldwin and Rep. Mark Pocan from Wisconsin’s delegation – attendees thanked Congress for extending and protecting the biodiesel tax credit and encouraged them to sign a letter asking the U.S. Treasury Department to consistently use the Argonne National Labs GREET model for measuring lifecycle carbon emissions. Additionally, Clean Fuels is encouraging the growth of 500 million gallons per year in biomass-based diesel volumes and 1 billion per year in overall advanced volumes over multiple years.

The WSP team departed Washington, D.C., with high spirits.

“We look forward to these Hill Visits and gathering with fellow Clean Fuels members every year,” Kask said. “As always, the visits were productive and constructive conversations were abundant.”