Washington (2000 EWS)

At the January 29-30 Harvesting Clean Energy conference in Spokane, one of the EWS follow-on activities for the state of Washington was the "Ethanol Track." The agenda focused on the experiences of farmers and ranchers who were actually using their own crops and products to make renewable energy. Dave Kolsrud, Agri-Energy LLC in Minnesota, explained both the forming of a farmer-owned cooperative and the challenges of getting financing. Bill Wells, Cascade Grain, an ethanol plant nearing groundbreaking in Oregon, explained what's involved in putting an ethanol project together. As a result of the ethanol track discussions, it was decided that a committee should be formed to determine methods of helping an ethanol industry develop in the state. There is a 40 million gallon per year plant proposed for the Moses Lake area in Washington. Another branch of follow-on activity will be a state-specific resource assessment.

Jim Kerstetter, WA State University Energy Program, Ph: 360-956-2069, Fx: 360-236-2069, Email: kerstetterj@energy.wsu.edu