Originally published November 4 2005
Washington legislature begins promoting biodiesel fuel
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Eastern Washington is trying to garner support for a five million gallon biodiesel plant, reacting to spiking oil prices and growing concern about foreign oil dependence.
Fueled in part by high diesel prices and the twin hurricanes that pushed those prices even higher, the Washington Legislature may take its biggest step yet in promoting the biodiesel industry.
State leaders are considering direct state funding for a biodiesel crushing and refining facility in Eastern Washington -- a move that could help position Washington as a national leader in a once-obscure energy sector that's getting renewed attention.
Rep. Hans Dunshee, who chairs the powerful House Capital Budget Committee, said he has identified money that could build a 5-million-gallon biodiesel plant at one of three locations in eastern Washington: Columbia County, Lincoln County or the Spokane vicinity.
These are three areas where farmers are considering growing the crops, such as mustard and canola, that yield oil that can be made into biodiesel fuel.
Dunshee, D-Snohomish, plans to move fast and said he hopes to introduce a bill soon enough to encourage farmers to plant a significant oilseed crop as soon as next spring.
"It's not often when you get the chairman of the House Capital Budget Committee agreeing to put hard dollars behind something like this," said Rep. Brian Sullivan, D-Edmonds, a top biofuels supporter in the Legislature.
Encouraging Washington farmers to grow canola or mustard for biodiesel production would bring every step of the industry into the state for the first time.
The proposal also could reduce the cost of the fuel by driving down shipping and production costs and driving up economies of scale.
It doesn't contain petroleum but can be blended with petroleum in any proportion and can be used in most existing diesel engines without major modifications.
Farmer co-ops around Washington state have been looking into biodiesel and developing business plans to grow and crush oilseed for biodiesel for some time.
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