The U.S. Energy Information Administration began tracking biodiesel consumption in 2001. For the first few years biodiesel consumption remained relatively low – well under one thousand barrels per year. Beginning with 2005 the consumption of biodiesel began to increase dramatically and peaked at a high of 8.5 million barrels per year in 2007. The consumption of biodiesel slowed in 2010 due to U.S. economic conditions and the discontinuation of a Federal biodiesel producer tax credit. The credit, which expired in December 2009, was reinstated in December 2010. With the recovering economy and the tax credit returned, biodiesel consumption has rallied, exceeding 2010 levels in just the first six months of 2011.
Biodiesel Consumption, 2001-2011*
* 2011 figure is for the first 6 months.
Supporting Information
Year | Biodiesel Consumption (Million Barrels) |
---|---|
2001 | 0.243 |
2002 | 0.385 |
2003 | 0.322 |
2004 | 0.640 |
2005 | 2.163 |
2006 | 6.204 |
2007 | 8.528 |
2008 | 7.519 |
2009 | 7.537 |
2010 | 5.447 |
2011 6 Months* | 5.807 |
* 2011 figure is for the first 6 months. |