LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION urging the New York State Congressional deleg-
ation to retroactively extend the federal biodiesel tax incentive

WHEREAS, The federal biodiesel tax incentive lapse is having a severe
impact on New York State with more than 23,000 jobs at risk nationally;
and
WHEREAS, Legislation is being considered by the United States Senate
and the United States House of Representatives to retroactively extend
the dollar-per-gallon production tax credit for biodiesel and diesel
made from biomass, which lapsed near the end of 2009, and to extend the
10-cent-per-gallon credit for small biodiesel producers; and
WHEREAS, Biodiesel leaders have confirmed that since its enactment in
2004, the biodiesel tax incentive has achieved its desired goal of
increasing the domestic production and use of biodiesel; when the incen-
tive was enacted, the United States produced 25 million gallons of biod-
iesel; that number rose to 690 million gallons in 2008; and
WHEREAS, Since the credit was allowed to lapse, biodiesel prices
cannot compete with heavily subsidized petroleum, and production and use
of the fuel has nearly come to a halt; and
WHEREAS, New York based biofuel and related companies have been forced
to lay off employees following the biodiesel tax credit's expiration
and, without the credit in place, more local green jobs and local
investments are threatened; and
WHEREAS, The biodiesel tax incentive has helped achieve the desired
goal of increasing the domestic production and use of biodiesel, and in
turn has helped the United States realize the energy security, economic
and environmental benefits associated with displacing petroleum with
domestically produced renewable fuels; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the New York State Congressional delegation be and
hereby is respectfully memorialized by this Legislative Body to endorse
and support the reconciliation of federal legislation already passed
that will retroactively extend biodiesel tax incentives; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to each member of the Congressional delegation from the State of
New York.