Dear Show-Me State lawmakers,

If you need someone to prove to you that a biodiesel mandate can work, look north.

While Missouri lawmakers have stalled on passing a state biodiesel mandate this session, their Minnesota counterparts have taken their legislation a step further.

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty signed a bill last week that expanded the state’s current 2 percent biodiesel standard to 20 percent by 2015.

One of the arguments Missouri biodiesel skeptics have raised against adding a 5 percent biodiesel blend to the state’s diesel fuel was that biodiesel can gel up in cold temperatures easier than standard diesel. Biodiesel backers acknowledge that their fuel gels slightly sooner than regular diesel, but only when used in high-level blends like B100 (pure biodiesel) or B80 (80 percent biodiesel). B5 and B20 pose no problems, they say.

I’m no expert, but I’m pretty sure the Land of 10,000 (frozen) Lakes is colder than the Show-Me State. So here’s my question: If the fuel works in Minnesota, why are lawmakers afraid to give it a shot in Missouri?

Minnesota will raise its 2 percent standard in increments. It will rise to 5 percent on May 1, 2009, 10 percent on May 1, 2012 and 20 percent on May 1, 2015.