Holmquist pushing biofuels in 2006 legislative session

Republican bill aimed at expanding their use, production

OLYMPIA — For Rep. Janea Holmquist, 2006 could be the year biofuels make a splash in the Washington Legislature.

The Moses Lake Republican has prepared legislation to create minimum renewable fuel standards in the state, which she said would expand the use and development of alternative fuels.

Under the proposal Holmquist plans to introduce in the coming 60-day session, state standards would eventually require all diesel fuel sold in Washington to contain a blend of at least 2 percent biodiesel created from crops grown in the state. A similar proposal for Holmquist's legislation would require a blend of at least 10 percent state-produced ethanol.

Increasing fuel prices over the last year, and support for biofuels from other legislators and Gov. Christine Gregoire are a combination Holmquist said has made 2006 the perfect session for proposing biofuels legislation.

"If we're going to do a renewable fuel standard, this is the session I think we can really get it through," Holmquist said.

She added that this year all the ingredients were present, as well as the will for those ingredients, for the state to become a leader in the biofuels industry. Holmquist has pointed to renewable fuel standards in Minnesota for creating more than 2,500 jobs in that state's ethanol industry.

Holmquist's bill would include triggers for the Washington Department of Agriculture director to determine when a sufficient quantity of competitively priced state-produced biodiesel fuel is available to meet 2 percent of the state's aggregate diesel fuel demand, or 10 percent of the state's aggregate ethanol demand.

"It will take time for farmers to obtain the equipment and grow more biofuel crops," Holmquist said in a news release. "My proposal would reflect the marketplace and provide assurances to farmers that there would be a constant demand for their biofuel crops."

Holmquist said the idea was initially brought to her by farmers, and hopes her proposal will heed additional acreage for fuel production in the state.

"What I'm hearing from farmers is a lot of enthusiasm," Holmquist said, adding harvests could see canola and other seed crops rolled into the rotation in the next few years.

Biofuel legislation has implications to impact many in the Columbia Basin area, and Holmquist pointed to plants like McKay Seed in Moses Lake already producing canola oil fuel right now.

Gov. Christine Gregoire has proposed similar biofuels legislation, and Holmquist said she is optimistic for some form of biofuels legislation becoming law by the end of the session.

The proposal is one of several being tossed around by legislators in preparation of the coming session. Legislators have proposed a number of plans including requiring state and school vehicles to use a blend of biodiesel, and proposed tax breaks for farmers who own biofuel-producing land.

While she calls biofuels legislation her "favorite" issue of the coming session, Holmquist sees a number of other issues impacting the state as well. She was recently re-appointed to the House Commerce and Labor Committee, and will again serve on both the Housing and Economic Development committees.

Holmquist said she is again pushing for small business health care reform, and alternative health insurance plans she said would make health insurance more affordable.

After hearing concerns from her district, she said more should be done to adequately fund the state's pension program, and was critical of the governor's proposed budget she said would not adequately fund those payments.

Spending is a concern for Holmquist, who favors new legislative spending caps in the Legislature. She is also pushing for the repeal of the reinstated estate tax, which she said puts a burden on farmers in the state.

Holmquist recently applauded an opinion from the state Attorney General's office clarifying state law does not set a limit on the amount of water farmers can draw for watering their livestock.

In other water issues, Holmquist said water supply could go hand in hand with biofuels as farmers need a water supply to be successful. Alternative fuel plans have been cited in an effort leading to a more energy independent Washington, but Holmquist said her legislation is a move toward agriculture independence as well.

"I think this is really going to strengthen our agriculture sector," Holmquist said.