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 http://www.environment.gov.au/atmosphere/fuelquality/publications/diesel-biodiesel-position-paper.html This link will take you to the recently published Position Paper from the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and Art's (DEWHA). It describes legislation that will restrict Australian Consumers’ ability to reduce their CO2 emissions and improve their air quality by using a Biodiesel blend. It will also significantly reduce current sales of Biodiesel, and precipitate irreparable damage to the industry, but you can help stop this.
DEWHA is proposing to alter the Australian Diesel Standard to limit diesel/Biodiesel blends to a maximum of B5, and remove Biodiesel blends exceeding 5% from the market. This Position Paper DOES NOT mandate blending 5% Biodiesel into diesel; as it is often suggested that mandates are unnecessary because “The Market Will Dictate”. Ironically, DEWHA is inconsistent, and contravenes “The Market Will Dictate” theme when it abolishes the Market’s access to Biodiesel blends above 5%. DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO 28 MARCH 08!
The DEWHA Position Paper is an inappropriate response to the Nation's health, environmental, economic or energy agendas, and it will; - Cement the domination of Biodiesel distribution with the Major Oil and vehicle industries,
- Send a clear and discouraging message to future investors in, and the developers of, Biodiesel in Australia,
- Wrench the economic feet out from under hundreds of businesses in the Australian Biodiesel industry,
- Ignore the voter’s mandate for increased Government support for Alternative Fuels,
- Diminish the Nation’s potential for enhanced fuel security with a renewable fuel,
- Disenfranchise the community’s right to a healthier environment,
- Eliminate the supply of a fuel that contributes to the domestic economy,
- Alienates Consumers that genuinely want to make a difference for themselves and their children, and
- It will prevent you from buying Biodiesel Blends that exceed 5% (B5).
The policy ignores data showing blends in excess of B30 (30% Biodiesel blended with 70% fossil diesel) are fit for purpose and comply with the Australian Diesel Standard. Furthermore, it ignores both foreign and domestic testing, trials, and reports verifying Biodiesel’s beneficial applicability to the transport, environmental, health and economic sectors. DEWHA asserts that consumers must be protected from Biodiesel blends in excess of 5%, while most Consumers are openly supportive of Biodiesel blends exceeding B5. The incongruence would be humorous if it weren’t so disappointing.DEWHA, while placing significant focus on the interests of the Vehicle Manufacturers (OEM’s) and the Oil Companies, has excluded Consumer Input, and it is this absence of input that has contributed to an unbalanced position paper. Most Consumers are not aware that Biodiesel is on the verge of being restricted, and this restriction will either require years to realign, or a circuitous application for a Section 13 waiver requiring the buy-in of OEM’s.I appreciate that your desk is littered with high priority projects, your time to attend to non-agenda items is miniscule, and that a single reponce from a voter is not a driver of Commonwealth agendas. However, if YOU are not aware of this proposal, it is likely that you will only become aware after the window for input has closed (14 March 08). On the other hand, if you are informed and prepared to respond, the outcome will be more representative of the needs of the Industry and Nation, and it is obvious that DEWHA is genuinely focused on the Nation’s best interests.The Biodiesel Station has not completed its formal reply; but TBS supports its Consumer’s right to enhance their environmental, economic, health, and energy agendas. TBS is also supportive of DEWHA’s mandate to adopt regimes that insure Consumers can confidently purchase a quality Biodiesel blend. However, any added restrictions on the Biodiesel Industry will have immediate and destructive consequences, and this Position Paper, if adopted, will clearly orchestrate that outcome.TBS asserts that if the current Diesel Standard must be modified; then an alternate “Premium Diesel” specification be adopted for Biodiesel/Diesel Blends exceeding B5. “Premium Diesel” would comply with the existing Diesel Standard, and Biofuels Association of Australia will adopt a Quality Management Program that insures the “Premium Diesel” standard is maintained by it members. Additionally, DEWHA must support “Premium Diesel” as a fuel qualifying for the Fuel Tax Rebate Scheme.Please let your Government know where you stand; is there going to be a Biodiesel Industry in Australia or not?Thank you, MLHowever, I am not asking you to submit anything based on this email; The BAA is asking your organization to review DEWHA’s proposal, and if, in BBI’s opinion, this proposal requires added consideration; please publish an initial response to DEWHA that demands they extend the 14 March deadline to late June 2008. This extension will enable the BAA to complete its gathering of relevant information, present it to the Stakeholders in a May Biofuel Forum, and afterwards, afford BAA and Stakeholders the opportunity to formally respond. As you are aware, the utilization of Renewables spreads across many sectors; environmental, energy, and economics. Without a cohesive and holistic approach to this proposal; the Public’s and the Planet’s best interests will be needlessly compromised. In many ways, this need for awareness reflects the agenda of the BBI Group to ensure the world embraces a vibrant and sustainable alternative fuels industry, |
