NASHVILLE (June 5) – Rep. Jim Hackworth, D-Clinton, and Rep. Les Winningham, D-Huntsville, sponsored a  successful bill in final action this week which authorizes awarding research grants for converting Tennessee crops into biofuels.

Such regional crops as soybeans and switchgrass could be used in formulating alternative fuels, explained Hackworth and Winningham in a joint statement to constituents.

“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 lawmakers.

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,” added Hackworth and Winningham.

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.

“After the infrastructure’s in place, our state can be a national leader in researching and developing the alternative fuels,” concluded Hackworth and Winningham.

Rep. Hackworth’s legislative telephone number is 615-741-4400 or e-mail rep.jim.hackworth@legislature.state.tn.us.

Rep. Winningham’s legislative telephone number is 615-741-6852 or email rep.leslie.winningham@legislature.state.tn.us.

CONTACT:        Kenneth Townsend, Press Secretary, House Democratic Caucus,
                615-741-6620 or kenneth.townsend@legislature.state.tn.us