In short: There are about 1,996 public stations selling biodiesel blends of B20 or higher in 25 states, the most in Illinois, California and Iowa. Search the map below and check which blend your diesel engine's maker allows.
Map and station data: U.S. Department of Energy, Alternative Fuels Data Center Station Locator. Stations are listed by their owners and networks; check the network app before you drive.
What is biodiesel?
Biodiesel is a renewable diesel fuel made from vegetable oils, animal fats or used cooking oil. It is almost always sold blended with ordinary diesel, labeled by its share: B5 is 5% biodiesel, B20 is 20%. Blends up to B5 meet the regular diesel standard and are sold at many pumps without special labels; the map shows stations selling B20 and higher.
Most diesel engines can use B20, but check your owner’s manual or engine maker for the highest blend they approve.
Who uses it
Diesel pickups and cars, farm equipment, delivery and school bus fleets, and some heating-oil customers (as "bioheat"). It is most common in the Midwest, where much of it is produced.
Where the stations are
The U.S. Department of Energy lists 1,996 public biodiesel stations open in 25 states (October 2026). The states with the most:
- Illinois (490)
- California (452)
- Iowa (399)
- Minnesota (283)
- Missouri (156)
- Oregon (64)
What biodiesel costs
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuel Price Report for April 2026 (prices gathered April 1–30, 2026) found biodiesel blends a little cheaper than regular diesel on average:
| Fuel | Per gallon | Per diesel gallon equivalent (same energy) |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | $5.55 | $5.55 |
| B20 (20% biodiesel) | $5.30 | $5.41 |
| B99/B100 (pure biodiesel) | $5.28 | $5.80 |
| Gasoline (for comparison) | $4.09 | $4.63 |
Biodiesel holds a bit less energy than diesel: a gallon of B20 has about 99% of the energy in a gallon of diesel, and B100 about 93%. So B20 stayed slightly cheaper even after that adjustment, while pure biodiesel cost a little more per mile.
Region matters. In April 2026, B20 averaged $1.80 a gallon less than diesel in New England, $1.36 less in the Central Atlantic, $1.15 less in the Lower Atlantic and $1.02 less on the West Coast, but 4 cents more in the Midwest. The report is a snapshot from local Clean Cities coalitions, and fleets buying on contract often pay less.
Our example (an estimate, not a quote): a diesel pickup getting 22 mpg over 12,000 miles uses about 545 gallons’ worth of diesel energy. At the April 2026 averages, that is roughly $3,030 on diesel, $2,950 on B20 and $3,160 on B100, or 25 to 26 cents a mile.
Vehicles that can use biodiesel
Biodiesel works only in diesel engines; there is no certified conversion for gasoline cars. For diesel owners the real question is which blend the engine maker approves:
- Up to B5: counts as regular diesel (ASTM D975) and is approved for any diesel engine: cars, pickups, tractors, boats and generators. No pump label is required, so you may already use it.
- B6 to B20: meets its own standard (ASTM D7467). Many engine makers approve B20 and most engines need no changes, but check your owner’s manual or warranty first.
- B100 and high blends: rarely sold as vehicle fuel. Some engines built since 1994 have compatible hoses and gaskets, but high blends can affect warranties and gel in the cold.
For model year 2026, the EPA’s fueleconomy.gov lists diesel versions of the Chevrolet Silverado, Tahoe and Suburban and the GMC Sierra, Yukon and Yukon XL, all with a 3.0-liter six-cylinder diesel rated 19 to 25 mpg combined. Heavier diesel pickups, vans, trucks, buses and farm equipment are not rated there; check the engine maker’s blend approval.
One firm rule from the Department of Energy: raw vegetable oil or used fryer grease that has not been made into biodiesel is not a vehicle fuel. Even small amounts can leave deposits and shorten engine life.
Programs and incentives (2026)
Federal support changed in 2025. What we confirmed on IRS, EPA and DOE pages in October 2026:
- The $1-a-gallon biodiesel mixture credit and the other section 40A biodiesel credits expired for fuel sold or used after December 31, 2024.
- The Clean Fuel Production Credit (45Z) now pays registered producers, not drivers, for low-emission fuel sold through December 31, 2029. Fuel made after 2025 must come from feedstocks grown in the U.S., Mexico or Canada.
- The federal credit for fueling equipment (30C), which covered B20-and-higher dispensers, applied only to property placed in service through June 30, 2026.
- The EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard rule, finalized March 27, 2026, sets the biomass-based diesel requirement at 8.86 billion RINs for 2026 and 8.95 billion for 2027, before reallocated refinery exemptions. Refiners must meet it, which supports demand for biodiesel and renewable diesel.
Some states go further, according to the DOE’s Laws and Incentives database:
- Minnesota: diesel sold April through September must be at least B20, and at least B5 the rest of the year.
- Iowa: retailers earn a state tax credit of 5 cents a gallon for 11–19% blends, 7 cents for 20–29% and 10 cents for 30% and up, until January 1, 2028. Grants can cover 70% of a retail B20+ pump project, up to $50,000 per site.
- Illinois: from April 1, 2026 through November 30, 2030, blends with at least 19% biodiesel or renewable diesel are exempt from state sales tax (10% from December through March).
- Oregon requires at least B5 in all diesel and Washington at least 2%; renewable diesel counts toward both.
Tax rules change often: if a credit matters to your decision, ask a tax professional. Our incentives guide covers home energy programs.
Supply and trends
2025 was a hard year. The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Monthly Energy Review (September 2026) shows production falling from about 1.67 billion gallons in 2024 to 1.15 billion in 2025, the year the old credit ended and 45Z began. U.S. consumption fell from 1.93 to 1.11 billion gallons, and imports nearly stopped.
2026 is recovering: first-half production was about 693 million gallons, up 23% from the first half of 2025, and it rose every month from January to June.
On January 1, 2026, the EIA counted 45 biodiesel plants able to make about 128,000 barrels a day (roughly 2 billion gallons a year, our conversion), down from 48 a year earlier. Twenty-seven are in the Midwest, which is why Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota have so many stations on the map.
Safety, storage and cold weather
- Less flammable. Pure biodiesel’s flash point is above 130°C (266°F), versus about 52°C (126°F) for diesel, and it does far less harm if spilled.
- Cold weather. B100 starts to cloud between about 27°F and 61°F, depending on how it was made, and can gel a few degrees lower. Blends behave more like the winter diesel they are mixed with. Keep above-ground tanks 5–10°F above the fuel’s cloud point.
- Parking for winter. For tractors, boats or generators that sit all season, the DOE’s handling guide suggests filling with winter-grade diesel first.
- Storage time. Good-quality B100 should stay in spec for 4–6 months of clean, dry storage. Keep tanks dry and closed.
- Good for engines. Even 2% biodiesel restores the lubrication ultra-low-sulfur diesel lacks.
More biodiesel questions
How much does biodiesel cost?
In the Department of Energy’s April 2026 price report, B20 averaged $5.30 a gallon and pure biodiesel $5.28, against $5.55 for regular diesel. B20 was more than a dollar a gallon cheaper than diesel in New England, the Central and Lower Atlantic and the West Coast, and about equal in the Midwest. Prices change weekly, so check the pump.
Is biodiesel better than regular diesel?
In several ways, yes: it is made in the U.S. from renewable oils and fats, it is less flammable and it improves lubrication, while B20 gives about the same power and mileage as diesel. The trade-offs are cold-weather gelling at high blends, shorter storage life and engine-maker limits on the blend. For most owners, B5 to B20 is the practical range.
Can I convert my car to run on biodiesel?
A gasoline car cannot be converted to biodiesel. Diesel vehicles need no conversion for blends up to B20 when the engine maker approves them. Kits that let a diesel burn straight vegetable oil are not the same thing; the Department of Energy warns unprocessed oil can damage engines. For a diesel fuel with no blend limits, look at renewable diesel.
Sources, read October 3, 2026: U.S. DOE (Alternative Fuel Price Report, April 2026; Alternative Fuels Data Center; Biodiesel Handling and Use Guide), U.S. EIA (Monthly Energy Review, September 2026; plant capacity, January 1, 2026), EPA (Renewable Fuel Standard 2026–2027 final rule), IRS (Publication 510; 45Z and 30C pages). Cost per mile is our estimate. How biofuels are made: biofuel energy.
Before you go
- Check the highest blend your engine maker approves; using more than that can affect the warranty.
- In cold weather, higher blends can thicken (gel) sooner than regular diesel; many stations switch to lower blends in winter.
- Biodiesel can loosen deposits in an older fuel system, so the fuel filter may need changing after you start using it.
Biodiesel station questions
Can I use biodiesel in any diesel engine?
Blends up to B5 work in any diesel engine. Most modern engines also approve B20; check your manual or the engine maker before using higher blends.
Is biodiesel the same as renewable diesel?
No. Biodiesel is chemically different from petroleum diesel and is blended in limited shares. Renewable diesel is made from similar oils but is chemically like regular diesel and can be used at 100%.
More station maps
Learn more: How biofuels work · Renewable diesel map.
Sources: U.S. Department of Energy, Alternative Fuels Data Center, Station Locator (public, open stations, read October 3, 2026) and fuel pages.