Dayton Announces Biodiesel Update

Gov. Mark Dayton has announced that Minnesota will implement a new biodiesel stand. Starting next spring the state will move to a 20 percent biodiesel blend, or B20, at Minnesota pumps. In 2005 Minnesota became the first state in the nation to require all diesel fuel to have a blend of at least 2 percent biodiesel, also known as B2.

Here's the schedule for the implementation of the changes. Starting in May 2018, B20 will be sold at filling stations in Minnesota during the summer. In October the blend will droop back to B5 to ensure cold-weather reliability. In 2019, B20 will be available from April through September every year.

The new standard is expected to reduce about 1 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions next year.

Minnesota has three biodiesel plants, which are located in Albert Lea, Brewster and Isanti. Combined, they produce about 74 million gallons of biodiesel annually.