BY KEVIN BESSLER WITH THE ILLINOIS RADIO NETWORK

2023 means an increase in the percentage of clean-burning biodiesel in each gallon of petroleum diesel that is sold in Illinois.

Andrew Larson, director of government relations and strategy for the Illinois Soybean Association, said Illinois legislation signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker in April allows producers to increase the amount of biodiesel in a gallon of diesel fuel from 11% to 13%, starting in January. By 2026, the allowable percentage will be 20%.

“Biodiesel is a great, viable option in terms of replacing petroleum diesel and having a cleaner alternative,” Larson told The Center Square. “By putting one truck to using B20 saves the emissions from five cars off the road.”

Cleaner tailpipe emissions will benefit the environment. By 2026, demand for Illinois-grown renewable biodiesel will increase by 150 million gallons a year, he said.

Illinois currently produces 180 million gallons of biodiesel a year. In 2026, biodiesel use will be close to double what it is now.

Illinois farmers have been using biodiesel fuel in combines and tractors and other equipment since 2003, Larson said.

“Farmers like to use it because it is a product that they grow,” he said. “It’s great to be able to say, ‘I grew a field of soybeans and the combine that I harvested with and the tractor that I planted with are burning a little bit of the soybean oil that might have come from my field.”

Clean-burning biodiesel has a critical role to play as the United States transitions to electric vehicles, Larson said. Because of infrastructure needs, charging station availability and the weight of electric batteries, long-haul semis and airplanes will not transition to electricity for many years, Larson said.

For moving large amounts of freight and commodities, sometimes EV vehicles can do the job, but not always, he said.

“Long-haul semis aren’t particularly well suited to that. Neither is construction equipment or farm equipment that sits idle for long periods of time,” he said.

Larson believes biodiesel has a critical role to play for decades to come. In the near future, he sees a huge opportunity for biodiesel blends in aviation fuel. It is currently in the development process.

“Environmentally friendly fuel will continue to be needed throughout our lifetimes,” Larson said.

Biodiesel is available almost everywhere in Illinois, he said. A lot of people are using it and they don’t even know it.

“Almost all fuel distributors carry biodiesel as a regular product that they sell,” Larson said.