Biodiesel Draft 2 (very rough)

Washington has done much in the last few years in terms of legislation for a greener state. Many of these initiatives involve the implementation of biofuels on a larger scale. This biofuel market has the potential to help reduce our dependence on foreign oil and reduce harmful emissions of greenhouse gases. But, current economic and other market trends are making the transition a difficult one.
Perhaps the best known form of biofuels is biodiesel. Biodiesel is a non-petroleum renewable fuel that is produced by processing vegetable oil. Biodiesel can be blended with petroleum to make a mixture or be used in its pure form. It can be used in any diesel engine with only a minor amount of modifications.
Biodiesel not only is a renewable fuel source but it produces on average less than half the number of the harmful greenhouse gases produced by regular diesel. Biodiesel is cheaper than regular diesel, better for the environment and is a renewable fuel. However, this wonder-fuel does have its downsides.
One of the biggest issues facing the biodiesel market here in Washington is the global economy. Currently, the Grays Harbor Facility receives much of its feedstock from Canada. Unfortunately, the price of vegetable oil worldwide has increased between 100 to 200 percent in the last year. This in turn has greatly slowed the growth of the bio fuel industry. In an article recently published by the Tacoma News Tribune, Imperium Renewables Inc., owner of the Grays Harbor Facility, halted a $345 million project to build four new facilities. The article also attributed that the facilities main source of feedstock is supposed to be produced by Eastern Washington farmers, but that aspect of the market has not materialized yet. Eastern Washington farmers can’t compete with the larger, more well-established markets to the north and east. John Plaza, president and founder of Imperium Renewables, operator of the Grays Harbor and Seattle biofuel plants, says that he would like to Washington farmers to provide much of the feedstock needed. Plaza also says that there isn’t a market at the moment in Washington. Not enough crops are being produced at a cost that can compete with the global market.
Though biodiesel is much more environmentally safe than its petroleum counterpart, it still raises issues. Many Indonesian and South American countries are cutting down large amounts of rainforests in order to make room for feedstock crops. This results in the permanent loss of habitat for animals and causes erosion on a massive scale. The price at which some of these crops are being maintained is too much to make the final product worth it.
Although the food market has made marketing bio fuels much more difficult, the qualities they have still render them a valuable asset to Washington State and the world. Bio fuels contain no petroleum, but can be blended with other petroleum products to create a mixture. They can be produced using renewable resources and are non-toxic. The National Biodiesel Board states the biodiesel is less toxic than table salt and biodegrades as fast as sugar. Many of the harmful greenhouse gasses such as Carbon Monoxide, Hydrocarbons, Nitrous Oxides and Sulfur are often reduced around 50 percent or more by pure biodiesel compared to petroleum diesel.
The potential for a strong bio fuel industry here in Washington is great. However, current economic trends are proving it difficult for commercial and state entities to move forward. If a solution can be reached that would allow the industry to expand, the repercussions would be profound. Bio fuels have the potential to bridge the gap between our dependence on foreign oil and the ideal day where our impact on the climate nears zero.