09/20/05 Lawmakers talk up biofuels

09/20/05 Lawmakers talk up biofuels

Washing Ag September 20, 2005 The sky high fuel prices in the wake of Hurricane Katrina has Governor Christine Gregoire and her fellow Democrats who control the state legislature focusing on development of a biofuels industry in Washington. In recent years lawmakers have provided several incentives aimed at getting biofuels production going in the state. At a news conference with the governor last week, Representative Hans Dunshee of Snohomish, suggested more help could be in the offing. Dunshee: "There are some very viable proposals for biodiesel in eastern Washington right now and I think it would be really good if the legislature stepped up and put in some seed money. The timetable I looked at we could have 5-million gallons of biodiesel coming on line next August or September from the proposals I looked at." Governor Gregoire wasn't specific but said she's been talking to companies wishing to locate in eastern Washington. The one commercial biodiesel plant in Washington, Seattle Biodiesel which began production earlier this year, has relied primarily on feedstock from the Midwest. What's needed are crushing facilities to process mustard or canola seed farmers here can grow if the price they are paid makes economic sense. Washington uses one billion gallons of diesel annually. The United States as a whole currently only produces about 30 million gallons of biodiesel. I'm Bob Hoff.
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