MN Govenor Pawlenty Signs Bodiesel  Ramp-Up Legislation.

 Read more.

Minnesota Passes Statewide B20 Mandate.                                    Read NBB press release.

 

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The state of Minnesota has made it a priority to have a leading role in the development of the biofuels industry.  The Minnesota Legislature has passed a number of pieces of legislation toward this goal, as well as creating taskforces and committees which focus on biofuels and their expanding industry.  The following examples of recent legislation are applicable to the biodiesel industry in Minnesota. 

Biodiesel

Currently all diesel sold in Minnesota must contain 2% biodiesel (B2). Future manadates are for 5% (B5) by May 2009, 10% (B10) by May 2012, and 20% (B20) by May 2015. Content levels apply only during warm-weather months (April-October), with B5 required during the remainder of the year unless a fuel standard is in place to address cold-weather diesel issues.

Other information on Minnesota's laws and incentives regarding biodiesel is available from the following resource.

Minnesota Statute, 239.77, Biodiesel Content Mandate

 

Next Generation Energy Initiative of 2007

In 2006, Govenor Pawlenty announced the Next Generation Energy Initiative, with the goal that 25 percent of all energy used in Minnesota will be from renewable sources by 2025. More information on the initiative is available in the Governor's December 12, 2006 new release.

Governor Pawlenty Introduces Next Generation Energy Initiative 

In 2007, Govenor Pawlenty signed the Next Generation Energy Act, which addresses climate change and energy efficiency to redude GHG emisions, and established the NextGen Energy Board. The full text of the act is available on the Minnesota Senate Web site.

Next Generation Energy Act of 2007

The primary goals of the initiative are:

• Increased Energy Efficiency among Power Companies.
• Use of More Renewable Energy Sources: Minnesota utilities are required to make a good-faith effort to provide 25 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2025.
• Lowering statewide GHG emissions by15 percent reduction by 2015, 30 percent by 2025, and 80 percent by 2050.

Next Gen Energy Board

The NextGen Energy Board was created to provide recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor about how the state can most efficiently achieve energy independence through agriculture and natural resource sustainability.

Read more about the NextGen Energy Board