Clean Fuels Alliance America (Clean Fuels) is a trade association representing companies involved in the production of biodiesel. Biodiesel seeks to lower environmental impacts through taking natural products such as cooking oil, soybean oil, and animal fat and repurposing them into biodiesel fuel, in the belief that biodiesel gas releases fewer greenhouse emissions than traditional fossil fuel. Clean Fuels Alliance advocates on the state and local level for biodiesel fuels and runs programs to train and recruit members

History

Clean Fuels Alliance America is the national trade association representing companies involved in the production of biodiesel, renewable diesel, and biodiesel aviation fuel. ¹ Clean Fuels was founded in 1992 by Missouri soybean commodity groups as the National SoyDiesel Development Board. ² In 1994, the organization changed its name to the National Biodiesel Board before rebranding in 2021 as Clean Fuels Alliance America. ³ Clean Fuels began with seven members in 1992 and now counts over 100 member companies. ⁴

Policies

Clean Fuels Alliance America uses a mix of resources such as cooking oil, soybean oil, and animal fat as an energy resource. ⁵ The Alliance claims that using biodiesel and renewable diesel instead of traditional fossil fuels reduces greenhouse gases by more than 70 percent on average and a 4 percent reduction in diesel fuel prices. ⁶ Both President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush have advocated for the use of biodiesel as a clean energy alternative. ⁷

In on-road, off-road, air transportation, home heating, and electricity generation, biodiesel use is expected to exceed six billion gallons by 2030 and 15 billion gallons by 2050. ⁸ Companies such as Ford, GM, Stellanis, and Cummings support biodiesel programs. ⁹ In 2022, there were 16 renewable diesel plants online with an expected additional 16 more by 2025. ¹⁰

Advocates argue that biodiesel is cleaner than petroleum-based diesel. ¹¹ They claim it is biodegradable and offers less emissions than petroleum-based diesel. ¹² While biodiesel’s greenhouse gas emissions are lower, its nitrous oxide emissions are higher compared to fossil fuel when used for transportation. ¹³

Funding

In 2019, the Clean Fuels Alliance America had net assets of $10,002,691. ¹⁴ According to the organization’s tax returns, in 2019 Clean Fuels recorded $13,549,360 in revenue and $13,323,273 in expenses. ¹⁵ In 2018, the Clean Fuels Alliance America had $15,877,957 in revenue and $15,588,112 in expenses. ¹⁶

Leadership

Donnell Rehagen joined Clean Fuels in 2004 as chief operating officer and has worked as CEO since 2016. ¹⁷ Previously, Rehagen spent eleven years working for the Missouri Department of Transportation. ¹⁸ Prior, he worked for four years for the Missouri Department of Economic Development. ¹⁹ Rehagen has a MPA from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a bachelor’s degree from Missouri State University. ²⁰

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14. Clean Fuels Alliance America, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), 2019.
15. Clean Fuels Alliance America, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), 2019.
16.  Clean Fuels Alliance America, Return of a Nonprofit Corporation (Form 990), 2018.
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