Johnson: Require biodiesel, ethanol blending of gasoline

Johnson: Require biodiesel, ethanol blending of gasoline
Contra Costa Times - CA,USA
... require all North Dakota gasoline to have a 10 percent ethanol blend by 2008, and diesel fuel should have a 2 percent to 5 percent biodiesel content, Johnson ...

Click Here to Make $20-$75/Hour for Your Opinion

BISMARCK, N.D. - Renewable fuels, a favorite subject of North Dakota's political campaigns, are getting another push from Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson, who is advocating mandatory blending for gasoline and diesel fuel.

The Democratic agriculture commissioner, who is running against Republican Doug Goehring for re-election, unveiled a renewable fuels promotion plan Wednesday. It includes a $5 million "biomass fund" and a tripling of state spending on renewable fuels, from $4.5 million to $20 million.

The Legislature should require all North Dakota gasoline to have a 10 percent ethanol blend by 2008, and diesel fuel should have a 2 percent to 5 percent biodiesel content, Johnson said. That can be achieved by blending the petroleum fuel with soybean or canola oil.

North Dakota gasoline should have a 20 percent ethanol content by 2013, and diesel fuel should have an oilseed blend of at least 10 percent by then, Johnson said.

Goehring said he would support the mandatory state renewable fuels standard, but said a national standard for ethanol-blended gasoline and biodiesel fuel was a more important objective.

"We have to look at the bigger picture," Goehring said.

Johnson said greater national use of renewable fuels would be achieved with a plan, endorsed recently by a national association of state agriculture commissioners, that foresees agricultural sources supplying 25 percent of the nation's fuel needs by 2025. Johnson is president-elect of the organization.

The Republican-controlled state Legislature has previously voted down proposals to require ethanol and biodiesel blending of all fuels sold in North Dakota, with critics saying that market forces, not government action, should dictate demand for renewable fuel.

Johnson said the mandates would help assure demand for renewables, and smooth out the industry's inevitable price swings. Greater use of biodiesel and ethanol-blended gasoline will also lessen dependence on imported oil, he said.

"The point is, there are always going to be market swings," Johnson said. "One of the things that you can do to ensure the survival of an industry that's so important for national security is to try and put some base at the bottom ... That's why I think having a standard is so important."

The biomass fund would provide aid for construction of a North Dakota factory to make ethanol from switchgrass, Johnson said. Ethanol can be made from cellulose, and switchgrass is a type of sturdy prairie grass that has an extensive root system and high cellulose content.

Renewable fuels have been mentioned in both the campaigns for North Dakota's agriculture commissioner and tax commissioner, with candidates saying they support greater use of ethanol, biodiesel and wind energy, and tax incentives to help production.

A recent public opinion poll commissioned by renewable energy backers indicated strong public support for ethanol and biodiesel fuel mandates, and for the industry in general.

Minnesota already has ethanol and biodiesel mandates in place. Gasoline sold in Minnesota has had a minimum 10 percent ethanol blend since 1997, and the minimum may rise to 20 percent in 2013. Last year, a 2 percent Minnesota biodiesel mandate took effect for diesel fuel.

Johnson said that although North Dakota's ethanol, wind and biodiesel industries are growing, they still pale in comparison to what neighboring states have accomplished.

"States like Minnesota and others are pulling ahead because they have implemented state (fuel blending) standards," Johnson said. "We are here without any. We need to get serious about it ... It sends a powerful message to the industry that we want them to grow and develop right here in North Dakota."

Click Here to Make $20-$75/Hour for Your Opinion