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Rep. Jim Hackworth - House District 33
IMMEDIATE RELEASE February
27, 2007
Rep. Hackworth Sponsors
Bill Authorizing
State Research Grants for
Alternative Fuels
Funds Also Targeted for
Government Fleets, Refueling Stations
NASHVILLE (Feb. 27) –
Rep. Jim Hackworth, D-Clinton, has filed a
bill in the General Assembly that authorizes the state Department of
Agriculture to award grants to researchers who develop technologies for
converting Tennessee crops into biofuels. Such regional crops as
soybeans and switchgrass could be used in formulating alternative fuels,
explained Hackworth.
“Tennesseans are tired
of high gasoline prices. We’re tired of importing oil from
unstable or unfriendly countries. The goal of this legislation can
be stated quite simply. That is, we want to improve upon our
economic and environmental future while turning the Volunteer State into
a farm-based fuel leader,” added the veteran lawmaker.
The measure also
authorizes the state Department of Transportation to award grants to
local governments that convert their fleets to run on alternative fuels.
In addition, the bill proposes creating a grant program to help pay for
purchasing and installing biofuel storage tanks and pumps at private
sector fuel stations along the state’s major highways.
“Federal assistance and
other funding sources are expected to underwrite the grants. This
comprehensive bill offers strong incentives for the public and private
sectors to invest in alternative fuels. City and county
governments, along with our public colleges and universities, would get
needed financial relief for increasing the number of official vehicles
that run on biofuels,” said Hackworth.
Gov. Phil Bredesen
recently advocated using $3.5 million in grants and loans for increasing
the accessibility, development and production of biofuels in the state.
The grants package, which includes building a pilot ethanol plant with a
capacity of five million gallons annually, is included in Bredesen’s
proposed appropriations bill for the 2007-2008 fiscal year.
Overall, the governor is
calling for $61 million for a comprehensive alternative fuels strategy.
Combined with an ongoing related project at Oak Ridge National
Laboratory (ORNL) previously funded at $11.6 million, the alternative
fuels package totals $72.6 million.
Along with ORNL, the
University of Tennessee (UT) Institute for Agriculture is researching
efficient methods of converting switchgrass into ethanol. This
crop grows easily in large quantities throughout the state. UT and
ORNL are also competing for a $125 million Bioenergy Research Center
from the US Department of Energy.
An essential component
of the alternative fuel strategy is creating a network of publicly
accessible biofuel refueling stations, or “Green Islands” in Tennessee.
These refueling stations along the state’s interstates and major highway
corridors would dispense two kinds of alternative fuels: E85and B20.
The former is a blend of
85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. The latter fuel is a
blend of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent petroleum diesel.
Biodiesel is a regulated diesel fuel made from such renewable resources
as plant oils or animal fats.
“These initiatives mark
the next steps in making cleaner burning biofuels commercially available
throughout the state by the end of 2007. We can develop local
markets for Tennessee’s agricultural products, which brings jobs to
rural areas. Once the infrastructure’s in place, our state can be
a national leader in researching and developing the alternative fuels,”
concluded Hackworth.
Rep. Hackworth’s
legislative telephone number is 615-741-4400 or e-mail
rep.jim.hackworth@legislature.state.tn.us.
CONTACT:
Kenneth Townsend, Press Secretary, House Democratic Caucus,
at 615-741-6620 or
kenneth.townsend@legislature.state.tn.us
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