Nine Oregon counties to mandate 2 percent biodiesel blend

Beginning today, gas stations in nine Oregon counties will be required to include a 2 percent biodiesel blend in their diesel. The rest of the state will join by Oct. 1. Already, Portland requires a 5 percent biodiesel blend, and neighboring Washington State has mandated a 2 percent blend since 2006. The requirement reflects a state-wide effort to cut down on diesel pollution and to create a demand for biodiesel. But Oregon’s biodiesel refineries, which rely almost entirely on waste-grease biodiesel, may not see much profit from this decision, writes Scott Learn of the Oregonian, as soy-based biodiesel from the Midwest seems preferred by most major oil companies.