Biodiesel

As of July 2008, Minnesota’s three permitted biodiesel facilities have a production capacity of 58 million gallons per year.  One Minnesota facility is currently being proposed which will add three million gallons per year capacity. 

Starting May 1, 2009, biodiesel sold in Minnesota must contain at least five percent biodiesel (B5). This mandate increases to 10 percent biodiesel (B10) by May 1, 2012 and 20 percent biodiesel (B20) by May 1, 2015. (The current minimum biodiesel content is two percent). Content levels apply only during warm-weather months (April – October), with B5 required during the remainder of the year unless an American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) fuel standard is in place to address cold-weather diesel issues.

New ASTM specifications for biodiesel have also affected the biodiesel production industry including changes to the existing B100 biodiesel blend stock specification (ASTM D6751), finished specifications to include up to five percent (B5) in the conventional petrodiesel specification (ASTM D975), and blends between six percent biodiesel (B6) to 20 percent (B20) for on- and off-road diesel.

Current Projects/Facilities

Project Status

• Map of Biodiesel Projects in Minnesota

Facilities in Minnesota

Below is a list of current facilities and proposed projects.  The individual site information may include information about permits, environmental review, project status, or specific facility details. 

• EverCat Fuels, LLC
• Minnesota Soybean Processors
• Northstar Bioenergy (Northstar Agri Energy)
• SoyMor

Related Links

City and County

• League of Minnesota Cities
• Minnesota Association of Counties – Individual County Web Pages 

Minnesota State Agencies

• Minnesota Department of Agriculture - Biodiesel
• Minnesota Department of Agriculture – Energy Balance/Life Cycle Inventory for Ethanol, Biodiesel and Petroleum Fuels
• Minnesota Department of Health - Well Management Program
• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources – Water Use Permits
• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources – Area Hydrologist for Water Resource Availability
• Minnesota Renewable Energy – (State of Minnesota Renewable Energy Gateway)
• Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development  – JOBZ

Federal Agencies

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Alternative Fuels
• U.S. Department of Energy

Academic Institutions

• University of Minnesota – Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering

Nonprofit and Other Organizations

• American Lung Association – Clean Air Choice (Biodiesel)
• Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
• Agricultural Utilization Research Institute

Staff Contacts

For more information about specific ethanol projects that have been proposed and are undergoing environmental review or proposed permitting required by the MPCA, contact Chai Insook Biofuels Project Leader, 651-757-2458.

If you have questions about cleaner fuels in cars, please contact Mark Sulzbach at 651-757-2770.