MA Bill Mandates Biofuel Blends

Massachusetts officials have filed legislation designed to increase the use of renewable fuels in gasoline and home heating oil.

The bill would make Massachusetts the first state to require a portion of home heating oil to come from renewable sources. Depending on supply, mandating biofuels could actually raise the cost of heating your home.

But energy secretary Ian Bowles says the state would ease into the requirement, "I'm confident," he says, "that with the energy prices going up the way they are, we'll ultimately be saving people money."

The legislation would also provide a state tax credit for an experimental type of gasoline additive that could be made from wood chips, cranberries or even algae. The bill has the support of the governor and both majority leaders in the statehouse.

For more details on the initiative, WBUR's Curt Nickisch joins host Bob Oakes.