12/06/06 Northwest Biofuels Association

The Northwest Biofuels Association is made up of industry leaders from Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Montana. This newly formed trade organization of producers, retailers and distributors will promote the biofuel industry and hope for its expansion in the Northwest. GROTT "Everything is small right now but there's a lot of activity in terms of people who are declaring intent to start to build plants both on the biofuels and the ethanol side." That's Robert Grott of the Northwest Environmental Business Council. He says biofuels have great potential but how does that fit in with Northwest farming? GROTT "We're not soybean states. We're not corn states but canola will be the contender for our region." Grott says canola does present opportunities but it comes with problems and that's why schools like the University of Idaho continue with research programs and a commitment to biofuel research. Grott says local production is the key to biofuels. GROTT "We're trying to help the producers organize so they can also talk to the growers and then say ok we have a market here, this is what we're going to buy it for and give the farmers some of the confidence they need to take that risk." Tomorrow, you'll hear from the owner of an Idaho start-up biofuel company. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott