Pennsylvania has produced enough biodiesel so that each gallon of diesel sold in the state will have to have a mix of the green fuel.
According to this National Biodiesel Board press release, Gov. Ed Rendell made the announcement at the Pennsylvania Farm Show that the 2 percent biodiesel mandate will kick in a year from now.
“The major challenge we’ve always had is getting fuel out to the public,” said Ben Wootton, President of the Pennsylvania Biodiesel Producers Group (PABPG) and President of Keystone Biofuels, a biodiesel producer. “We repeatedly hear ‘Where can I buy the fuel?’ This legislation helps ensure that the oil companies’ terminals offer biodiesel product.”
The legislation, passed in July 2008, called for a blend of B2 (2 percent biodiesel, 98 percent diesel fuel) in each gallon of biodiesel sold in Pennsylvania. This was contingent upon the in-state production of biodiesel of 40 million gallons, which has now been met. Producers maintained a 3.3 million gallon per-month average for a 90 day period. The twelve month period from this January, until the effective date next January, is to allow infrastructure to be built up to prepare for the additional biodiesel sales.
“Pennsylvania is one of only a handful of states that has adopted biodiesel requirement legislation,” said Shelby Neal, National Biodiesel Board Director of State Governmental Affairs. “Pennsylvania is improving its environment, enhancing economic development during a challenging time, and helping the US break its dependence on foreign oil.”
Once the state hits 100 million gallons of biodiesel production, a 5 percent mandate kicks in and progressively ramps up to 20 percent at 400 million gallons.