JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — US legislation is resulting in unprecedented growth for the biodiesel industry, a group representing biodiesel producers says.

The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) says it has tracked more than 275 pieces of biodiesel-specific legislation in the US in 2006. More than 50 bills have passed this year that directly affect biodiesel use and production, according to the group.

“When it comes to alternative energy proposals, there is increasing momentum in statehouses across the country, and we’ve seen it building year to year,” said Joe Jobe, chief executive officer of the NBB. “Many governors and lawmakers want to go beyond what is happening on the federal level and are tapping into their own state resources to offer proposals that will not only reduce our reliance on foreign oil, but create jobs and strengthen state economies.”

Governors in Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, New York, Pennsylvania and Michigan were among those to throw their support behind the use of biodiesel over the past year.

“Biodiesel production could reach 200 to 250 million gallons this year tripling the amount produced last year,” Jobe said. “With this flurry of activity at the state level, production increases could be even more dramatic in 2007. NBB applauds the leadership of these and other states working to achieve greater energy independence for our country.”