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Updated 06/16/2008
Mission
Statement
The Bioenergy Program supports bioenergy and energy conservation
opportunities in the agricultural sector to:
- Improve economic vitality of Washington farmers and rural communities
through added income sources and reduced cost of production.
- Protect human health and the environment through reduced energy-related
inputs and emissions.
Accomplishments - Assembled the Washington State Bioenergy Team, a cooperative gathering
of state agencies and universities dedicated to interagency coordination
and successful implementation of the state?s bioenergy initiatives and
goal, June 2006. The Bioenergy Team issued its 2006 Status Report in
January 2007. WSDA remains an active member of the team, which is now led
by Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development.
- Completed Energy Freedom Loan agreements, issuing $13 million dollars in
low-interest loans supporting renewable energy projects in Washington
State, June 2006-June 2007. While WSDA administers the loan agreements it
completed, the Energy Freedom Loan Program was moved to Department of
Community, Trade and Economic Development in June 2007.
- Convened the Biofuels Advisory Committee, January 2007. The Advisory
Committee completed its report to the Director of Agriculture in August
2007. The report included a status report on biofuels in Washington State
as well as recommendations on agricultural matters related to biofuels.
The Committee?s work was completed with publication of the report.
- Coordinates with WSU on state-funded, agricultural bioenergy research.
Current projects includes: fundamental agronomic research on oilseed and
cellulosic crops, near-term anaerobic digester research, and oilseed
co-product development. The research effort seeks to convey transformative
information and technology to Washington farmers as quickly as possible,
August 2007-present.
- Partnered with WSU Extension to develop biofuels crop outreach/education
program. This program seeks to transfer the early results of WSU biofuels
crop research to Washington farmers. Between June 2008 and September 2009,
the project will hold as many as 18 grower field days and workshops
throughout the state, February 2008-present.
Contact
Jeff Canaan
Bioenergy Coordinator
Washington State Department of Agriculture
Director's Office
(360) 902-1918
jcanaan@agr.wa.gov
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Related Links
Director's Recommendation on RFS
Implementation
Biofuels Advisory
Committee Report August 2007 Final
Renewable Diesel White Paper
Washington State BioEnergy
Team 2006 Status Report
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