May 20, 2010
Wisconsin passes ethanol bill
Published in Ethanol Producer Magazine
The “ethanol bill” has been signed into law by Gov. Jim Doyle of Wisconsin. Senate Bill 279 streamlines the process for the management, development and research of biofuels. State Rep. Scott Suder-R., who worked on the bill with State Sen. Scott Kreitlow-D., said Wisconsin needs the bill for jobs, for the environment and to make the state competitive in the renewable energy sector.
The bill focuses on the way research and development is managed by state run departments; expands state programs that support the production, harvest, storage and transportation of all feedstocks, and establishes an advisory council. “We essentially make sure the citing requirements have to be streamlined,” Suder said regarding proposals for new plants or expanding existing plants. “We require in the bill the departments to develop a plan to streamline all regulations.” Suder said the current system does not provide a clear avenue for ethanol plants and different departments are supplying different answers. “Right now there are a lot of hoops to jump through,” Suder added.
Although it doesn’t emphasize or promise funding, it does provide better communication. Part of the bill will create an advisory council that will study and report on the best management practices for biofuel production. The council will ....
