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Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed a statewide B20 mandate into law May 12, to be phased in by 2015. The current B2 biodiesel mandate will increase to 5 percent on May 1, 2009, to 10 percent on May 1, 2012, and to 20 percent on May 1, 2015. The current biodiesel production capacity in the state exceeds 64 million gallons annually, more than enough to meet the 5 percent mandate which would require 40 million gallons, according to the Minnesota Biodiesel Council.
The increases are not automatic, however. There is an approval process before moving to higher blends which will allow the legislature, biodiesel producers and other stakeholders to gauge supply and demand impacts before moving to a higher blend.
Ed Hegland, chairman of the National Biodiesel Board and a Minnesota farmer, praised the legislation’s commitment to fuel quality. “The legislation includes quality assurance and national ASTM fuel specifications,” he said. “We will continue to work with state leaders and stakeholders impacted by this legislation to ensure only quality fuel continues to enter the marketplace.”
The legislation fosters the use of non-tradition state agricultural resources. That includes algae, waste oils and tallow, as well as other future feedstocks being researching in the state such as cuphea, an oilseed plant, and industrial hazelnuts.