Area
United States of America
Commodity Group
Biofuels
Commodity
Biodiesel
Date
01/08/2017
Policy Category
Renewable energy
Policy Instrument
Biofuel policy
Description
Announced that, in the state of Minnesota, the mandatory biodiesel blending rate would be raised from 10 to 20 percent in May 2018.
Notes
Local blending mandate: Minnesota the first state in the nation to mandate biodiesel use back in 2005 is set to raise its biodiesel standard from 10 to 20 percent in May next year. Accordingly, only diesel containing 20 percent biodiesel may be sold between May and October, when fuel stations will switch back to 5 percent, as biodiesel turns from fluid to gel under colder temperatures. The higher blending mandate is meant to (i) help preserve and protect Minnesotas air and water quality, (i) reduce the states reliance on fossil fuels, and (iii) support demand for locally grown biodiesel feedstock, notably soybeans. Fuel producers and the trucking industry expressed concern about the new measure, stating that the infrastructure required to handle the higher blends was not yet available.
