The Pennsylvania B2 mandate goes into effect May 1, adding one more to the growing list of states with biodiesel mandates. The Pennsylvania mandate is a progressively increasing biodiesel standard based on trigger points, so the ball started rolling after instate production, not installed capacity, surpassed 40 MMgy. Once instate production surpasses 100 MMgy, the mandate will jump from B2 to B5. Check out the news story in the 3/17 BIODIESEL WEEK enewsletter on the event the NBB and state ag department is holding on April 20, which is intended to provide information on what producers can expect once the mandate goes into effect.

Originally scheduled to begin earlier, the B2 mandate was pushed back until May 1 to ensure that things are done right, including having the necessary infrastructure in place. Ben Wootten with Keystone Biofuels, now NBB regulatory chair and also head of the Pennsylvania Biodiesel Producers Group, said state officials have also been talking with Minnesota officials, learning from their experiences going back nearly five years now.

Speaking of Minnesota, my presentation to a local farmer cooperative in Northwest Minnesota went very well. I was told only 60 people would attend, but it was more like 100. I spoke for 20 minutes and then took several questions. My focus was on fuel quality improvements over the years. I also cautioned them to get all the facts before they summarily conclude that biodiesel is the cause for all of their fuel troubles. I would like to believe I helped some biodiesel critics rethink their position on biodiesel. I’d like to thank the Marshall County Cooperative for inviting me to speak.