Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance Presents Visionary Awards to City of Portland and Commissioner Randy Leonard
SBA board member, actress Daryl Hannah presents award
PORTLAND, OREGON—As part of the BEST Awards program held today in downtown Portland, the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance (SBA) recognized the visionary accomplishments of both the City of Portland and City Commissioner Randy Leonard.
On hand for the presentation of the SBA’s first-ever Visionary Awards was actress Daryl Hannah, co founder and board member of the non-profit organization founded in 2006. Hannah was joined by fellow co-founder and board member Kelly King of Hawaii-based Pacific Biodiesel and by SBA Executive Director Jeff Plowman of Austin, Texas.
The Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance (SBA) is a non-profit organization created to promote sustainable biodiesel practices, including the harvesting, production and distribution of biodiesel fuels. Their website is www.fuelresponsibly.org.
In recognizing the City of Portland’s forward-looking efforts, the SBA presentation highlighted a mandate for B5 diesel (5% biodiesel) within the City, and a municipal fleet contract that stipulates preferences for locally grown, processed, and distributed biofuels. SBA noted that the transparent City of Portland pricing agreement serves as a model for other municipalities, while encouraging local business opportunities, including agriculture.
Hannah noted the ambitions goals of the City Water Bureau, using B20 and B50 fuels in colder months, and as much as B99 in the summer months. “This admirable commitment by the City of Portland,” Hannah said, “benefits the environment, local economy, local energy security, and has helped lead to a State of Oregon mandate for B2, to begin when in-state production of biodiesel reaches 5 million gallons per year.”
Commissioner Leonard was SBA’s choice for their first Visionary Award for an individual. SBA lauded Leonard for his commitment to a healthier planet, and willingness to invest in his own local community.
“Today we celebrate the great opportunity and responsibility to shape the future of the biodiesel industry,” said Plowman. “We invite other communities to follow the bold leadership examples of Portland, and ultimately to support SBA’s efforts for certification of best practice standards and local production for the biodiesel industry.”
“We believe that biodiesel produced and used locally can benefit the community in many ways,” aid Pacific Biodiesel’s Kelly King. “Now more than ever it is important to focus on the benefits of a sustainable, local model for biodiesel in the United States in order to maintain local energy and economic security.”