On December 2, Jeff Jensen published an informative piece about biodiesel in the EO Truck Topics section.
Story link: http://www.expeditersonline.com/artman/publish/biodiesel-trucking-fuel.html
Minnesota has mandated a biodiesel fuel blend. Yesterday, state officials suspended the mandate. The December 24 edition of the Star Tribune, Minnesota's largest newspaper, says,
"Responding to reports that soybean-based biodiesel fuels may be causing engine troubles for some Minnesota truckers, the state of Minnesota has granted dealers a temporary reprieve allowing them to sell regular diesel fuel for the next 21 days.
"State and private researchers will use the time between now and Jan. 13 to study trucker complaints that the 2 percent soybean-based mixture has fouled fuel lines in cold weather.
"The Minnesota Biodiesel Council had joned Minnesota truckers in calling for a temporary lifting of state requirements for exclusive sale of biodiesel fuels throughout the state.
at the urging of the Minnesota Truckers Association and fuel refiners."
Full story: http://www.startribune.com/stories/535/5800298.html
Additional info is reported in the Saint Paul Pioneer Press:
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/business/13469671.htm
Diane and I reside in Minnesota but seldom buy fuel there because we seldom go home. Being home now for the holidays, we'll wait to get out of state to buy fuel again. If you are traveling through Minnesota in the next few days, it may be wise to fill up before you enter the state. It will take that long for the suspect fuel to be pumped away and the good stuff to return.
No one is saying biodiesel won't work if it is properly produced. In broadcast interviews, knowledgable people seem to be leaning toward the theory that biodiesel was rushed in too fast and quality control issues rose as a result.
Note also that the cold weather talked about in the news stories is not the sub-zero, bone-chilling cold that Minnesota experiences most winters. The real cold (-10F, -20F, -30F) will likely come in January and February.
While maintaining an open mind about biodiesel, I see no reason to rush to buy the stuff if you don't have to.
Story link: http://www.expeditersonline.com/artman/publish/biodiesel-trucking-fuel.html
Minnesota has mandated a biodiesel fuel blend. Yesterday, state officials suspended the mandate. The December 24 edition of the Star Tribune, Minnesota's largest newspaper, says,
"Responding to reports that soybean-based biodiesel fuels may be causing engine troubles for some Minnesota truckers, the state of Minnesota has granted dealers a temporary reprieve allowing them to sell regular diesel fuel for the next 21 days.
"State and private researchers will use the time between now and Jan. 13 to study trucker complaints that the 2 percent soybean-based mixture has fouled fuel lines in cold weather.
"The Minnesota Biodiesel Council had joned Minnesota truckers in calling for a temporary lifting of state requirements for exclusive sale of biodiesel fuels throughout the state.
at the urging of the Minnesota Truckers Association and fuel refiners."
Full story: http://www.startribune.com/stories/535/5800298.html
Additional info is reported in the Saint Paul Pioneer Press:
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/business/13469671.htm
Diane and I reside in Minnesota but seldom buy fuel there because we seldom go home. Being home now for the holidays, we'll wait to get out of state to buy fuel again. If you are traveling through Minnesota in the next few days, it may be wise to fill up before you enter the state. It will take that long for the suspect fuel to be pumped away and the good stuff to return.
No one is saying biodiesel won't work if it is properly produced. In broadcast interviews, knowledgable people seem to be leaning toward the theory that biodiesel was rushed in too fast and quality control issues rose as a result.
Note also that the cold weather talked about in the news stories is not the sub-zero, bone-chilling cold that Minnesota experiences most winters. The real cold (-10F, -20F, -30F) will likely come in January and February.
While maintaining an open mind about biodiesel, I see no reason to rush to buy the stuff if you don't have to.
