Biodiesel Outline

3 Main Questions:

Why isn’t biodiesel being implemented more effectively into the Wash. State economy?
Several aspects, on a state and global level, are slowing the production of biofuels in Washington. Washington State has passed legislation giving tax breaks for the use/production of biofuels and other bills that will require a certain percentage of biofuels to make up the total of fuel consumption in the state. However, the more substantial of these bills, where biofuels will make up a percent of total fuels sold will not go into effect until 2009. The state is making efforts to lessen its dependency on fossil fuels and its negative impacts on the climate. However, the increase in food prices has slowed the production of biodiesel. This has also made it more difficult for farmers in Washington to compete with Asia, Canada and the Mid-West over feedstock prices. 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.

What is happening to the feedstock crops being produced in Washington?
Are they being sold to Europe? Current speculation projects that Europe may ban the importation of some imported biofuels (primarily palm oil) in reaction to their deflating economy. What is being done, if anything, to stimulate the growth of the eastern Washington feedstock crops? Can the local, national or global market support this fairly recent economy?

Is biodiesel (biofuel(s)) really as good for the environment as predicted?
The numbers don’t lie. Years of testing and analysis have proven that biodiesel reduces nearly all the harmful chemicals released by regular diesel by half. That means serious reduction in greenhouse gases, which is at the top of the priority list for most local and national government. Not only does it produce less than half the harmful chemicals than diesel, but it is a renewable fuel source. Biofuel can be produced from any number of crops (corn, soy, palm, rapeseed…), of which some can be harvested in little as six months. However, farming itself, is harmful to the environment. The worst of this is taking effect in areas like Indonesia and some of the southern Americas. Millions of acres of forests are being cleared to make way for feedstock crops. This causes irreversible loss of habitats for thousands of species, many of which are endangered. It also greatly increases the erosion processes.

Any comments or other ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Colby Farvour