Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association v. Stine

The federal district court for the District of Minnesota ruled that the “Minnesota Mandate,” which requires diesel fuel sold in the state to contain a specific percentage of biodiesel, was not preempted by the federal Renewable Fuel Standard. The court also ruled that the plaintiffs did not have standing to bring their preemption claims against some of the defendants. The plaintiffs were associations representing the trucking industry, car and truck dealers, automobile manufacturers, the oil and gas industry, and refiners and petrochemical manufacturers. The court also ruled that the Eleventh Amendment barred the plaintiffs’ claims that the defendants violated state rulemaking procedures.