Recent BQ-9000 Inductee Shares Testimony

06/01/07 - Carolina Biofuels LLC became another top quality biodiesel producer in the fuel pool in May. The Greenville, S.C., company achieved its BQ-9000 Accredited Producer status. There are now 19 Accredited Producers and seven Certified Marketers in the voluntary quality assurance program.

"We've had a number of people call and ask whether we were BQ-9000 accredited or not," said Bill McIlwain, the company's chief operating officer and National Biodiesel Board member. "Some business actually depends on whether you have that accreditation."

BQ-9000 couples the foundation of universally-accepted quality management systems with the product specification ASTM D 6751, and has become the premier quality designation in the industry. The program covers storage, sampling, testing, blending, shipping, distribution and fuel management practices.

"We started the process because we wanted to participate in bids for a state contract to supply the state school bus system with biodiesel," McIlwain said. "South Carolina required the company it awarded to be BQ-9000 accredited. Despite not being awarded that account, having the BQ-9000 distinction seems to make a difference in business demand, contrary to some other industries and their certifications. This really means something."