Senate endorses biodiesel mandate in Missouri

The Associated Press

3/11/2008

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — State senators are seeking to expand Missouri's mandate for alternative fuels to cover diesel used by big trucks, not just gasoline consumed by cars.

A bill given initial Senate approval Monday night would require most diesel fuel sold in Missouri to contain a 5 percent biodiesel blend. A law that took effect Jan. 1 already requires most Missouri gasoline to contain a 10 percent ethanol blend.

The alternative fuel mandates are backed by Missouri's corn and soybean producers, who stand to make more money by increasing the demand for their grains. They promote the requirements as a way to improve the environment and reduce dependency on foreign oil.

But some lawmakers denounced the biodiesel mandate Monday as a socialistic, big-government intrusion into the free market.

The bill, which is supported by Gov. Matt Blunt, needs a second Senate vote to go to the House. If it becomes law, Missouri would become the sixth state to enact some sort of biodiesel requirement, according to the Missouri Soybean Association.

As originally proposed by Sen. Bill Stouffer, the mandate would have begun April 1, 2010, as long as distributors were able to obtain biodiesel for no more than the cost of conventional diesel.