Minnesota Rejects Request From Truckers to Delay Plan to Mandate B20 Biofuel Mix

Business News/Analysis, Deliver Dispense, Infrastructure, Minnesota, Opinions, Policy

August 3, 2017

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(Transport Topics) Minnesota Department of Agriculture officials have rejected a request by the state’s trucking association to delay a plan to increase the mix of biofuel to 20% of all diesel sold in the state beginning May 1.

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In a July 17 letter to the state’s Department of Commerce, the Minnesota Trucking Association as well as automakers and energy stakeholders said there is a lack of adequate blending infrastructure and regulatory protocol in place to promote diesel quality to avert “potential economic disruption.”

The current state requirement is for a 10% blend, or B10.

Before implementing blending requirements for B20, state officials were required to ensure a variety of conditions were met, including sufficient fuel and/or feedstock supply, adequate blending infrastructure and existing federal standards for mandated blends.

“We took a really hard look at that and have issued a findings document where we felt that there was infrastructure in place to accommodate the use of B20,” Vaubel (Andrea Vaubel, the state’s assistant agriculture commissioner) said.

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Minnesota, the first state to require blending biodiesel with diesel fuel, since 2005 has gradually been increasing the mix of biodiesel that truckers must use in the summer months.

However, in the cold winter months, the biodiesel blends can experience increases of viscosity, known as “gelling” or “waxing,” which can cause performance problems in engines.

“These cold weather-related issues are managed through changing diesel blends, additives and thorough quality control,” according to the 2017 annual report of the state’s biodiesel board to the Department of Agriculture.

“What we can tell you, though, is that our members have taken a lot of precautions to offset that,” Hausladen (John Hausladen, president of the Minnesota Trucking Association) said. “They’re adding more No. 2 in the cold months, they’re putting additional additives, additional tank heaters and fuel filter heaters — precautions that all cost money to ensure that the fuel flows as it should.” READ MORE

Minnesota doubles biofuel mandate for diesel (MPR News)

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