Missouri’s State Senate has moved forward on a measure to require a 5 percent biodiesel mix in every gallon of diesel sold in the state… again.
Sen. Bill Stouffer (R-Napton) has once again introduced the measure… and once again, it has passed the Senate Ag Committee. Stouffer has sponsored similar measures in the past but has been unable to get final passage:
“We have had the research on this for a few years. Missouri is already leading the nation with a standard for ethanol.” Sen. Stouffer said. “This bio-diesel standard is a win-win-win. It is a win for consumers, the environment and the rural economy.”
Senate Bill 29 would require fuel terminals in Missouri that sell diesel fuel would sell biodiesel along with conventional diesel fuel. The bill would let fuel retailers, wholesalers, distributors and marketers to buy diesel and bio-diesel the same way they buy ethanol.
“Fortunately, gas and diesel prices are down,” Sen. Stouffer said. “But who’s to say we couldn’t see another upturn in prices like we saw last year? This would keep higher prices from hurting truckers and ultimately keep prices lower on the goods we buy that are carried by big rigs.”
Stouffer’s measure comes on the heels of the Virginia Legislature moving forward on a 2 percent mandate earlier this week. You can read the entire contents and follow the progress of Stouffer’s bill here.