URBANDALE, Iowa - Fuel quality is of the utmost concern and importance to the biodiesel industry. That is why Iowa biodiesel manufacturers are disturbed at the findings made public in a study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The NREL recently released a study showing that some biodiesel producers are not properly monitoring the quality of fuel they produce. All biodiesel must be analyzed to ensure that it meets ASTM standards. ASTM International Standards Worldwide develops high-quality, market-relevant international standards used around the globe.

In an effort to control and minimize the number of biodiesel producers who do not properly monitor biodiesel quality, the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) formed the National Biodiesel Accreditation Commission. The Commission put into place a program for companies who produce and/or sell biodiesel and biodiesel blends, called BQ-9000. BQ-9000 combines ASTM biodiesel standards with a program that includes quality control for storage, sampling, testing, blending, shipping, distribution, and fuel management practices.

Three of the seven biodiesel manufacturers in Iowa are BQ-9000 accredited producers; Renewable Energy Group in Ralston, AGP in Sergeant Bluff, and Cargill in Iowa Falls. The other four producers are undergoing the process to become accredited. Purchasing biodiesel from a BQ-9000 certified marketer or accredited producer provides additional assurance and confidence that the biodiesel will meet all quality standards.

“The Iowa Soybean Association is proud of Iowa’s biodiesel producers who manufacture high quality fuel and we encourage all Iowa biodiesel producers to strive to produce the highest quality fuel possible,” says Ed Ulch, Iowa Soybean Association director and governing board member of the National Biodiesel Board. “The three current BQ-9000 accredited producers in the state have set high expectations and high standards for the biodiesel produced in Iowa.”

To learn more about ISA or about soy biodiesel, visit ISA’s Web site at www.iasoybeans.com or visit the National Biodiesel Board’s Web site at www.biodiesel.org.