07/03/07 Grants for biofuel infrastructure improvements

The Idaho Energy Division is taking grant proposals from fuel retailers to install and upgrade biofuel infrastructure projects in the state. John Crockett says the state needs such projects. CROCKETT "Idaho uses less biofuels per capital than any state in the union out there right now yet we're an agricultural state." Crockett says grants cover up to half of the project cost up to 100 thousand per application for new fueling facilities or upgrades on existing ones. But Idaho's only biodiesel producer, Blue Sky Biodiesel has halted operations in New Plymouth less than a year after starting up. Crockett says others are coming on line. CROCKETT "We've got the old Simplot plant out in Caldwell that's been taken over by EDF&Mann and they're starting to produce ethanol. We have another plant proposed in Burley, a corn plant." And he insists there are places where biofuels make immediate sense. CROCKETT "No reason in the world people like school buses shouldn't be using a lot cleaning burning fuel that that runs better in their school buses." Today Idaho has no biodiesel production, few biofuel outlets. The question is; what will Idaho have five or ten years from now? Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott