South Cook News

An Illinois state senator who chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee is promoting a measure he introduced to require biodiesel for transportation fuel starting in 2024.

State Sen. Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) introduced Senate Bill 2394 that would create the “Illinois Renewable Fuel Standards Act” that “provides that diesel fuel must contain at least a stated percentage of biodiesel fuel oil by volume on and after a specified date,” according to the Illinois General Assembly website.

“Today, I advanced a measure through the Senate Agriculture Committee that aims to create a statewide renewable fuel standard which would require biodiesel for transportation fuel beginning in 2024,” Joyce said in an April 15 Facebook post.

Diesel sold in Illinois for use in internal combustion engines will be required “to be at least 5% biodiesel fuel oil by volume” before July 1, 2024, and 20% afterwards, under SB2394, according to a press release. Fuel for marine engines, locomotives and power generation would be among exemptions. The measure is an initiative of the Illinois Soybean Association, which on its website describes Illinois as “one of the largest biodiesel-producing states.”

“Biodiesel production supports nearly 2,000 jobs in all sectors of the Illinois economy,” according to the website. “Between 2004 and 2015, the Illinois biodiesel industry generated $1.6 billion of household income and was responsible for more than $3 billion of Illinois Gross Domestic Product.”

SB2394 will help farmers as demand for biodiesel “is growing quickly,” Joyce said in the press release.

A renewable, clean-burning diesel replacement, biodiesel is made from such materials as soybean oil, recycled cooking oil and animal fats, according to Biodiesel.org.

Since its passage in the Senate Agriculture Committee, Senate Bill 2394 is awaiting “further consideration,” the press release said.