ST. PAUL – The first U.S. state to mandate biodiesel is proposing a new long-term plan that would require vehicles to fill up with 20 percent biodiesel blends by 2015, according to the Web site www.todaystrucking.com. However, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s proposal to raise the biodiesel mandate from its current two percent over the next eight years has drawn concerns from industry groups and road users, reports Associated Press.

The plan calls for an increase in the level of biodiesel that must be blended into every gallon of diesel fuel sold in the state. If approved by legislators, a B-5 blend could take effect next year, rising to B-20 by 2015. Minnesota’s plan would mandate the highest biodiesel blend in North America.

Four other states in the United States have biodiesel standards, but none require more than a B-5 blend. Critics of biodiesel and ethanol argue that although biodiesel is marketed as an environmentally friendly alternative fuel, the effect on NOx reduction is negligible and some blends actually increase CO2 emission slightly.

Those same critics argue that mandating boutique fuels is a backdoor attempt of boosting the farming industry. While that may be good news for farmers, the cost of food reportedly goes up because corn and other agriculture supply is diverted away from the food market for the fuel market, according to www.todaystrucking.com.