The Montana State Senate today voted to give initial approval to a bill that would require all biodiesel sold in the state contain at least 5% biodiesel.

This AP story in the Great Falls (MT) Tribune says Senate Bill 432 – a measure sponsored Sen. John Brueggeman (R-Polson) – passed 35-15:

Brueggeman said biodiesel fuels can be made from oils derived from Montana’s farm crops. By using these homegrown, renewable energy resources, he said, Montana could help curb the country’s dependency on foreign oil.
“The U.S. has to take steps now,” Brueggeman said, “or else we will be subjugated to the Asian economies.”

The bill does have some exceptions for the railroad and mining industries and if biodiesel becomes more expensive that conventional diesel.