First US state to impose B20 biodiesel rule

Minnesota's Governor has proposed plans to raise the biodiesel mandate from 2% to 10% in every gallon of diesel fuel sold by 2015.

A B5 blend could take effect next year if approved by legislators. Biodiesel can be burned in a standard diesel engine as pure B100 or in a blend with petroleum diesel. B20 is common is some commercial vehicles in the US.

'Increasing the level of biodiesel in diesel fuel means that more of our energy will come from farm fields rather than oil fields and that's a good thing,' Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty says.

Four other states in the US have biodiesel standards, none above a B5 blend requirement. Critics argue that mandating biofuels is a backdoor attempt of boosting the farming industry. The cost of food could rise as corn and other agriculture supply is diverted away from the food market and into the fuel market.