December 27, 2005 9:30 AM, EST

Minn. Temporarily Suspends Biodiesel Law Over Filter Concerns

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innesota truckers will get a three-week reprieve from the state’s two-month-old law requiring 2% biodiesel blend with diesel, following complaints that the soybean-based fuel is clogging fuel filters, particularly in cold weather, the Associated Press reported.

The state’s Commerce Department Friday temporarily suspended the requirement, giving biodiesel makers and distributors time to fix the problem, AP reported. During the 21-day variance, stations can sell unblended diesel fuel.

John Hausladen, president of the Minnesota Trucking Association, told AP that some of his members were “going ballistic” over the requirement.

The state's trucking group said that in a survey of 90 members, 56 reported problems with plugged fuel filters, AP reported.

State trucking officials said in November that the fuel mix was clogging their filters. (Click here for previous coverage.)

The glitch may stem from biodiesel that does not meet fuel specifications, the Commerce Department said in a release.

Last week, Minnesota's largest refiner, Flint Hills Resources in Rosemount, quit delivering certain cold-weather biodiesel blends for greater Minnesota, AP reported.