Think Ahead on Future Fuels: Biodiesel Plans for Evansville will Help All South-Central Wisconsin
We all believe Wisconsin should work to continue to create incentives for energy conservation as well as work to develop alternative fuels. Reducing our dependence on imported fuels and finding cleaner, more sustainable alternatives needs to be a priority at every level of government.
Biodiesel is a domestic, renewable fuel manufactured for use in diesel engines. In Southern Wisconsin, we are lucky to have the community of Evansville that has a strong soy bean production base and biodiesel processing plant. In addition, it has been announced that a local business, Landmark Services Cooperative, is committed to supporting a soy bean crushing facility to Evansville. This is good news for the economy, for farmers, and those interested in alternative fuel development and practices.
Landmark announced they will commit $4 million in matching funds to the investment of the State of Wisconsin. While at the time of this column we are still debating the future of state funding for the soybean crushing plant, I feel very strongly that the Legislature can agree to this bipartisan proposal and will be able to make this unique public-private partnership a reality for Wisconsin.
Governor Doyle and the Senate both passed $30 million in biodiesel development funds and with a commitment of $4 million for a crushing facility in Evansville we can make this a reality for soybean farmers in Wisconsin and build an economy that will put forth move available alternative fuels.
Wisconsin produced a record 72.2 million bushels of soybeans in 2006.
• South-central Wisconsin produced 27 percent or 18.5 million bushels, of the crop.
• Dane and Rock are leading soybean producing counties, followed by Dodge, Lafayette and Grant.
Wisconsin has always been a leader in agriculture and alternative energy. The continued development of biodiesel and soybean production businesses can only help our local economy and give us the tools we need for cleaner and more sustainable fuel in the future.
More information on biodiesel visit: http://www.wibiodiesel.org/
