Minnesota’s Bio-Diesel 20 Mandate
As many of you may have heard, the state Minnesota is about to launch a Bio-Diesel Mandate on May 1, 2018 requiring all diesel fuel sold in the state to contain at least 20 percent bio content (known as B20). Starting in calendar 2019, the requirement will shift slightly and be in effect from April 1 through September 30. Only the winter months of October 1 through March 31 will B5 be the minimum allowed bio-diesel requirement. As most Minnesotans know the state has been mandating bio-diesel use since Fall of 2005 when it put the first requirement for B2 in place and then followed up with a B5 mandate in 2009. Most recently, (since 2014) B10 has been the requirement for the summer months in Minnesota.
With B20 right around the corner for retailers and motorist, we would like to take a moment and update every one of the compatibility of our dispensers and their appropriateness for use with B20 diesel after May 1, 2018.
Gilbarco Encore dispensers manufactured after December 2013 are compatible for use with biodiesel fuel up to B20 that meet ASTM standards, and our standard warranty covers these Encore dispensers when used with B20 or conventional diesel. The entire Encore Series is compatible with B20. While all of our products are compatible with B20, they are not all UL-Listed for B20, as UL only recently updated the UL listing protocols to specifically include B20.
“We are constantly upgrading and improving our products to take into consideration changes in the fuel market such as higher ethanol blends, ULSD, and higher biodiesel blends. To this end, we now have UL listed dispensers that are specifically designed for these new market fuels and offer UL listed B20 dispensers such as our Encore Series.” – Danny Seals Product Marketing Manager, Retail Dispensers, Gilbarco
Legacy dispenser models have not been evaluated or tested for compatibility above standard diesel fuel (B0-B5).
Link to most recent NATSO article: Minnesota to Implement Biodiesel B20 Mandate May 1 – Fuel & Energy – NATSO
