National Biodiesel Board
605 Clark Avenue
P O Box 104898
Jefferson City, MO 65110-4898
(573) 635-3893 phone
(800) 841-5849
(573) 635-7913 fax
NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jenna Higgins/NBB
800-841-5849
April 30, 2009
National Biodiesel Board Statement Regarding the “Water Footprint of Biofuels” Study
The recently released findings on the “water footprint” of biofuels raise legitimate concerns regarding the need to ensure the most sustainable agriculture practices are being followed in developing crops to be used in conjunction with biofuels or any other use.
As the national trade organization representing America’s biodiesel producers, the National Biodiesel Board has made sustainability a top priority not only in agriculture, but in climate change mitigation, human rights, food security, and respect for all natural resources. That’s why our industry has adopted and follows guiding principles that demonstrate our commitment to a full spectrum of sustainability tenets.
As noted by the authors of the study, not all biofuels production characteristics are the same. Biodiesel is produced from recycled greases, animal fats, and vegetable oil that is a co-product of soy protein meal production. Crops are not irrigated or planted solely to produce biodiesel. Conversion of these co-products and byproducts uses very little water -- the entire U.S. biodiesel industry used less processing water in 2008 than it takes to irrigate two Sun Belt golf courses annually.
Further, a jointly produced U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Energy “cradle to grave” analysis of biodiesel’s production found it reduces wastewater by 79% and reduces hazardous waste production by 96% compared to petroleum diesel.
We agree with the authors’ conclusion that “through energy conservation and careful agricultural methods and water usage planning, we can have our drive and drink our water too.” However, the "water footprint" study makes a false assumption that the Energy Independence and Security Act will result in more land put into production to produce biofuels. The truth is that the U.S. biodiesel industry can meet both its mandated and its voluntary goals to displace petroleum and reduce greenhouse gas emissions without any additional acres being put into crop production.
National biofuels policy is an effective strategy to mitigate climate change and dependence on foreign oil. In contrast, protection of water resources requires local and regional policy that addresses all competing water uses, of which biofuels are a very small component.
We support working together to make sure consumers and policy makers alike understand it will take a wide variety of homegrown fuels to wean our country off foreign oil. And biodiesel, the most diverse and the only advanced biofuel commercially available today, is deserving of their support.
# # #