1900 – Rudolph Diesel demonstrates his compression engine at the World’s Fair Exhibition in Paris, France. In his demonstration he used peanut oil to run the engine. His design won the distinguished “Grand Prix” award at the fair.

1912 - Rudolph Diesel gives a speech in which he says, "The use of vegetable oils for engine fuels may seem insignificant today but such oils may become, in the course of time, as important as petroleum and the coal-tar products of the present time."

1920’s - The Diesel engine, which had gained great popularity since it’s invention, received a modification that allowed it to begin running petroleum based fuel, which was cheaper to produce and had a lower viscosity. The diesel engine design continued to be widely used, but vegetable-oil-based (biomass) fuels all but disappeared.

1937 - G. Chavanne of the University of Brussels (Belgium) was granted a patent for a 'Procedure for the transformation of vegetable oils for their uses as fuels' This appears to be the first account of the production of what is known as 'Biodiesel' today.

1970’s - Fuel Shortages in the U.S. cause a renewed interest in biodiesel fuel, but only in a limited capacity as a strictly “alternative” or “experimental” fuel.

1990’s - Biodiesel production picks up in European countries. European vehicle companies Renault and Peugeot produce vehicles that are certified to run on biodiesel fuel up to its 30% blended form.

2005 - Minnesota becomes the first state in the U.S. to mandate that all diesel fuel sold in the state contain at least 2% biodiesel.

2006 - Southeast Biodiesel celebrates the grand opening of their plant in October.

2007 - Southeast Biodiesel sells its first full load of B100 fuel in April.