Senate approves biodiesel

Since January first almost all of our gasoline is a 10 percent blend of ethanol. This bill says almost all diesel fuel will be five percent biodiesel. Senator Chuck Purgason of Caulfield is adamantly against state subsidies to biodiesel plants that produce fuel that diesel fuel users will be required to buy. He says he always thought he and fellow Republicans were against mandates. "We’re gonna stick it to ’em again," he says. But other rural lawmakers such as Wes Shoemyer of Clarence say turning soybeans into biodiesel keeps American energy dollars at home and in local communities, although, yes, it is a mandate."You initiate mandates when they make sense…Folks, this mandate makes sense," he tells the Senate. The sponsor says mixing biodiesel with diesel fuel will lower the price at the pump because biodiesel can be sold only if its price is equal to or below regular diesel.The bill is now headed to the House.