Senate committee considers technical fix to restore "advanced" in bio‑incentive statute

Senate File 1359 would insert the word "advanced" into the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's Bio Incentive Program statute to restore the original eligibility criteria for advanced biofuels, Sen. Rest told the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband and Rural Development on March 10, 2025.

Supporters told the committee the change is a single‑word correction that restores the program's original intent and carries no fiscal impact. "Advanced biofuel" was described by Brian Werner, executive director of the Minnesota Biofuels Association, as a renewable fuel that achieves at least 50% lower greenhouse‑gas emissions on a life‑cycle basis than petroleum; he said some forms of corn fiber ethanol can reduce emissions by about 70% compared with petroleum and qualify as advanced biofuels. Werner said that because the word "advanced" was dropped during a 2023 amendment, some previously eligible applications have been denied under the department's current reading of the production cap.

Chandra Herr, senior policy associate at Clean Energy Economy Minnesota, told the committee that restoring the term would allow facilities producing advanced biofuels after 2015 to be eligible for performance‑based payments and support commercial growth in advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals and biomass thermal energy. Werner and Herr both asked the committee to lay the bill over for possible inclusion.

Committee members asked procedural questions about ensuring the word "advanced" remains in the bill as it moves through conference. Sen. Anderson asked who would watch the language in later negotiations; Sen. Est responded that she would watch. The Department of Agriculture fiscal note referenced in committee was described as showing no fiscal impact.

Senate File 1359 was laid over for possible inclusion.