Anne Steckel, vice president of federal affairs for the National Biodiesel Board is disappointed that Congress did not act to extend critical tax incentives that are slated to expire on December 31. According to Steckel, – jobs and the economy are supposed to be the top priority in Washington, yet Congress has left thousands of workers in limbo heading into the holidays by failing to extend this tax incentive. She calls it a – missed opportunity, and we are urging Congress to pass an extension immediately next year to limit the economic damage.

The biodiesel industry has seen a remarkable turnaround this year after Congress reinstated its $1-per-gallon tax incentive following a one-year lapse in 2010. When the credit lapsed, dozens of plants shut down, thousands of jobs were lost and 2010 production plummeted to about 315-million gallons, the lowest level since 2006.

Through the end of October of this year, according to the latest EPA figures, the industry had set a new annual production record of more than 802-million gallons and could triple the 2010 production volume by the end of the year.