Minnesota introduces bill to raise biofuel standard from 10% to 15%

In Minnesota, a new state legislative bill was introduced, HF 3699 in the House and SF 3605 in the Senate, that proposes increasing Minnesota’s biofuel standard from 10% to 15% for all gasoline sold in the state. If passed, Minnesota would be the first state to put into a law an increase in the biofuel standard, according to the Minnesota Corn Growers Association.

The Minnesota Corn Growers Association is “advocating for an increase in the standard from 10 to 15 percent because in 2019 the federal government issued a federal regulation enabling a higher blend of biofuel to be sold year-round in 2001 and newer vehicles.”

MCGA also noted “how grain bin safety was becoming a more prevalent topic for discussion in the House and Senate agriculture committees. Ag committees in the House and Senate did advance legislation aimed at assisting farmers and rural communities to improve farm safety, in particular grain bin safety.”

“The House and Senate agriculture committees advanced bills authored by Sen. Nick Frentz (DFL-Mankato) and Rep. Jeff Brand (DFL-St. Peter).  SF 3007/HF 3224 aims to create a grant program for farm safety equipment, including for grain storage. The program is modeled after the tractor roll over protection program and would appropriate $500,000 for the farm safety cost-share programs.”