Senator appointed to advisory committee

COLUMBIA BASIN — Sen. Janea Holmquist was appointed to the state Biofuel Advisory Committee.

The committee is comprised of 13 voting members from the biofuel processing industries, petroleum industries, agricultural committee, Washington State University educators and consumer groups.

The committee advises Washington Department of Agriculture Director Valoria Loveland on implementing or rejecting renewable fuel content requirements.

Loveland appointed Holmquist to the committee.

"I plan to actively participate in fulfilling the advisory committee's mandate to advise the director of the Department of Agriculture in implementing all the parts of the renewable fuel content requirements I pushed through this year," said Holmquist.

Earlier this year, Holmquist helped create minimum renewable fuel standard guidelines for Washington, said Information Officer John Sattgast. The guidelines require biodiesel and ethanol to make up 2 percent of Washington's aggregate use by 2008.

"More than $500 million in private capital is flowing into our state for the construction of biofuel plants and more announcements are coming," Holmquist said. "I'm excited. Farmers, businesses, workers, environmentalists and concerned citizens will all derive some benefit from these renewable fuel standards."

In Olympia on Nov. 29 the committee holds their first meeting.