STARBUCK – As of Aug. 1, people who use straight No. 1 diesel, particularly in very cold weather, are among those benefiting from new law authored by Rep. Paul Anderson, R-Starbuck.
Anderson earlier this year successfully led to enactment a bill (H.F. 3523) which, in part, makes permanent an exemption from the biodiesel blend for No. 1 diesel fuel which was set to expire.
“Straight No. 1 is helpful to truck drivers and farmers who use diesel tractors in the winter time because it can help mitigate problems bitter temperatures have on other forms of diesel fuel,” Anderson said. “This new law should reassure drivers that No. 1 will be available to help them avoid issues during cold snaps.”
The bill also eases the annual transition period for fuel refiners and blenders to make their seasonal switch from one type of biodiesel fuel to another.
State law stipulates that diesel fuel sold in Minnesota must contain a certain percentage of biodiesel, a plant-based fuel that can be made from soybeans. The percentage was set to grow over time as biodiesel production capacity in the state increases and, on May 1 of this year, the percentage of plant-based biodiesel that must be included in No. 2 diesel fuel was increased from 10 percent (B10) to 20 percent (B20).
A lower blend of biodiesel (B5) is to be used from October through March due to concerns over how diesel fuel with the B10/B20 blend performs in cold weather. Anderson said the annual transition is challenging to refiners and blenders and his new law will ease the pressure by now allowing a two-week period – April 1-14 – to ramp up production of B20. A B10 blend must now be reached by April 1, then rise to a B20 blend after April 14.
“The final language that became law didn’t go quite as far as some would have liked, but it was the result of compromise and the leeway that will be provided should help,” Anderson said. “This change should be an improvement and make for a smoother process.”
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