As Minnesota prepares to implement its 20 percent biodiesel (B20) requirement in diesel fuel May 1, a series of workshops will be held across the state beginning Feb. 12 in Saint Paul. The “Be Ready for B20 Workshop Series” is designed for diesel retailers, distributors, fleets, farmers and others with the goal of sharing information on the benefits of biodiesel, and how the new requirement will impact fuel providers and end-users.

Minnesota implemented its B10 mandate in 2014 with no major issues reported.

“Before we rolled out B10, we made sure to do a series of workshops around the state so that fuel suppliers, mechanics and diesel users could be ready for the change,” said Mike Youngerberg, senior director of product development and commercialization with Minnesota Soybean and executive director of the Minnesota Biodiesel Council. “The program obviously worked, so we’re ready to do it again.”

Youngerberg was awarded the Eye on Biodiesel-Impact Award from the National Biodiesel Board in January at the National Biodiesel Conference & Expo in Fort Worth, Texas, where he referred to this year as “B2018” in Minnesota.

“We don’t foresee a lot of difference from handling B10 to handling B20,” Youngerberg said. “At the end of the day, handling fuel, diesel or biodiesel, is about making sure fuel tanks are clean and free of water, and making sure they stay as full as possible to avoid moisture-laden air from entering the storage tank.”

Youngerberg said Minnesota’s B10 success can be attributed to the workshops held prior to B10 implementation, in addition to biodiesel’s strict quality control requirements.

“I think it’s really a tribute to the industry coming together and ensuring a standard was created so that biodiesel meets high-quality ASTM specifications,” he said. Youngerberg also attributed successes to the “great fuel handling” by those who sell, blend and deliver the biodiesel blends, in addition to good fuel storage practices by end users. Youngerberg says it is important to keep up the practices learned by B10 as the state moves to B20.   

The workshops will feature speakers from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the Minnesota Department of Commerce Weights & Measures Division, and fuel consulting firm MEG Corp. Topics will include a history and overview of Minnesota’s law and compliance, diesel and biodiesel basics, storage handling and use best practices, spring and fall blending as the mandate moves from B5 to B20 in the warm weather months and back down to B5 again for wintertime, and identifying, treating and preventing common diesel issues.

The following workshops are scheduled: 

Monday, Feb. 12
Saint Paul
American Lung Association in Minnesota: 490 Concordia Ave.
11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; lunch included

Wednesday, Feb. 14
Duluth
Holiday Inn & Suites: 20 W 1^st St
11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; lunch included

Monday, March 5
Mankato
Courtyard by Marriot Event Center: 901 Raintree Road
11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; lunch included

Tuesday, March 6
Worthington
Worthington Event Center: 1447 Prairie Drive
8:30 to 11 a.m.; breakfast included

Marshall
AmericInn Lodge & Suites: 1406 E. Lyon St
2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Wednesday, March 7
Willmar
American Legion: 220 19th Ave SW
11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; lunch included

Tuesday, March 13
Alexandria
Holiday Inn: 5637 Highway 29 South
11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; lunch included

Wednesday, March 14
Moorhead
Courtyard by Marriott, Moorhead
1080 28th Avenue South
8:30 to 11 a.m.; breakfast included

Tuesday, March 20
Winona
The Plaza Hotel & Suites: 1025 Highway 61 E
11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; lunch included

Wednesday, March 21
Rochester
Hampton Inn & Suites: 2870 59th Street NW
11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; lunch included