WASHINGTON, D.C. — In his State of the Union address last night, President George W. Bush called for an enhanced Renewable Fuels Standard that would include more widespread use of biodiesel and other alternative fuels.

The president also called on the nation to reduce its gasoline usage by 20% over the next 10 years.

Its in our vital interest to diversify Americas energy supplyand expand the use of clean diesel vehicles and biodiesel fuel, Bush said in his address.

Bush said the US must increase the supply of alternative fuels by setting a mandatory fuel standard to require 35 billion gallons of renewable and alternative fuels in 2017. Proponents of biodiesel were quick to applaud the strategy.

We are glad to see that the Presidents Twenty in Ten plan includes strong steps toward renewable energy, energy conservation and diversification, and carbon reduction, responded Joe Jobe, CEO of the National Biodiesel Board. We hope Congress will work with the Administration in a bipartisan way to enact this kind of bold new energy policy for the good of all Americans.