09/14/07 Recommendation says move forward with biofuels standard

Washington Ag September 14, 2007 Washington should continue to move forward with its two-percent biofuels standard. That's what an advisory committee with members from the fuel industry, agriculture and consumers has recommended to Washington State Department of Agriculture Director Valoria Loveland and she is recommending to the state Legislature. Loveland: "I feel really good about it. Oil went to a record $80 a barrel and that helps on the economic side on the cost of production of alternative fuels. Makes it economically competitive. I think this is the beginning of alternative fuels of all sorts. In this case we are zeroing in on ethanol and biodiesel, but I see this as the future to adding supply." The biofuels standard adopted in 2006 requires that two percent of fuel purchased in the state by December 1st of 2008 be biodiesel and ethanol. The advisory panel says a challenge to successful implementation of that standard is supporting local production of crops to produce the biofuels and it recommends possible financial incentives for farmers to make oilseed crops in particular, more profitable. I'm Bob Hoff.