Minnesota Biodiesel Task Force to Meet June 9 on B20 Mandate

by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) Minnesota’s Biodiesel Task Force is scheduled to meet June 9 in Saint Paul to discuss whether statutory conditions have been met in order to move the state’s biodiesel mandate from 10 to 20 percent on May 1, 2018.

Task force members will be asked to provide reasons why they believe statutory conditions have or have not been met. If any member believes conditions have not been met, they are asked to provide possible solutions as to what the task force and state should do to ensure the conditions are met in the coming year.

The four conditions required by Minnesota law to be met in order to progress to the next mandated content level of biodiesel in the state’s diesel fuel supply are:

1) an ASTM specification or equivalent federal standard exists for the next minimum diesel-biodiesel blend;

2) a sufficient supply of biodiesel is available and the amount of biodiesel produced in this state from feedstock with at least 75 percent that is produced in the U.S. and Canada is equal to at least 50 percent of anticipated demand at the next minimum content level;

3) adequate blending infrastructure and regulatory protocol are in place in order to promote biodiesel quality and avoid any potential economic disruption; and

4) at least 5 percent of the amount of biodiesel necessary for that minimum content level will be produced from a biological resource other than an agricultural resource traditionally grown or raised in the state, including, but not limited to, algae cultivated for biofuels production, waste oils, and tallow.

“Flint Hills Resources believes biofuels, including biodiesel, can compete in the marketplace without subsidies, incentives or government mandates,” Webb stated. “Higher biodiesel blends, including B20, are already available in the marketplace and being chosen freely by consumers when cost and seasonal factors make it a competitive and practical option. Mandating the use of B20 in Minnesota, however, as outlined above, is another matter.”