Heating New York With Biodiesel, A Bad Idea (?)

Hello All,

This is only the 2nd or 3rd time I've emailed the group.  I mentioned before
that I was a member of the coop about a year and half ago until my life took
me to the always interesting city of New York.  Anyway, now that I'm
car-less (and therefore biodiesel-less) you are all still my main source of
biodiesel information.  So I thought I'd run something by you that I came
across today and see if anyone had some useful opinions or info on the
matter.

I have an acquaintance who is very involved in environmental issues and has
started a non-profit called habitat map:  www.habitatmap.org.  He's a great
guy, but unfortunately he is very outspoken against biodiesel as an
alternative to diesel, making the usual claims about the creation process
causing more harm than good (see news alert link below).

So recently, he sent out a news alert about a bill in the New York City
Council that would require home heating oil to contain a certain amount of
biodiesel in order to cut green house gas emissions from the city.  He (and
his organization) has taken a stance against this bill based on the above
mentioned claims about biodiesel and instead is endorsing a plan to require
Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) to be used in homes.

I don't think any of us would disagree that mandating the use of ULSD would
certainly be a step in the right direction in terms of reducing greenhouse
gasses but I just can't get behind all the biodiesel bashing.  I'm having
dinner with this friend soon and want to be able to speak more intelligently
about the matter than I currently feel able.  Should we just agree that his
suggestion for the ULSD is a good idea and leave it at that?  Is there a way
for me to intelligently and respectfully defend our beloved veggie oil
derivative?  Or is he in fact right, that biodiesel from virgin crop is not
currently a good solution and alternative?

All thoughts and inputs are welcome...

Here's the news alert:  http://www.habitatmap.org/BiodieselFactSheet.pdf

Thanks!

Jeff