1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to agriculture; directing certain 
  1.3             commissioners to conduct a pilot project on the use of 
  1.4             soy-based biodiesel in state vehicles; appropriating 
  1.5             money. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  [PILOT PROJECT; SOY-BASED DIESEL FUEL.] 
  1.8      Subdivision 1.  [PILOT PROJECT.] The commissioner of 
  1.9   agriculture in cooperation with one or more commissioners of 
  1.10  appropriate state agencies or departments shall conduct a pilot 
  1.11  project to test the use of soy-based biodiesel fuel to operate 
  1.12  fleet vehicles of each selected agency or department that use 
  1.13  diesel fuel.  The commissioners shall, in cooperation with the 
  1.14  commissioners of pollution control and each selected agency or 
  1.15  department, study (i) the environmental effects of soy-based 
  1.16  biodiesel compared to conventional diesel fuel, (ii) operational 
  1.17  characteristics of soy-based biodiesel in motor vehicles, and 
  1.18  (iii) existing obstacles to the wider use of soy-based biodiesel 
  1.19  as a highway fuel. 
  1.20     Subd. 2.  [REPORT.] The commissioner of agriculture shall 
  1.21  report to the governor and legislature by January 1, 1999, on 
  1.22  the results of the pilot project.  The report must contain 
  1.23  findings and recommendations on the feasibility and desirability 
  1.24  of state action to increase the use of soy-based biodiesel fuel 
  1.25  in Minnesota. 
  2.1      Sec. 2.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
  2.2      $....... is appropriated from the general fund to the 
  2.3   commissioner of agriculture for purposes of the pilot project 
  2.4   and report in section 1.  The commissioner may transfer a 
  2.5   portion of this appropriation to the commissioners of the 
  2.6   selected agencies or departments for the purchase and 
  2.7   distribution of soy-based biodiesel fuel and other direct costs 
  2.8   of the pilot project. 
  2.9      Sec. 3.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.10     Section 1 is effective July 1, 1997.