MONTANA BIOBASED PRODUCTS – Standards and Availability
By Steve Simonson
Thompson Falls, MT
August 6, 2006


In regard to biofuels while MT currently doesn't have an ethanol or commercial biodiesel plant, the State could look at some additional legislative initiatives. Right now I think it was HB 471 that allowed for the state to purchase biofuels "when available". The 2003 legislators road tested the biodiesel in MDOT vehicles and found no adverse effects which set up the 2005 legislation. Fuel distributors are reluctant to mix petroleum based diesel fuel with biodiesel.
Conoco in particular has a "branded" product that biodiesel doesn't fit Into very well. A State fuel standard needs to be adopted to ensure quality and consistency.
There are two additional pieces of companion legislation I'd like to see. Please remember I'm involved with a bio-based lubricant company (Peaks and Prairies LLC) and identify this interest so folks know this fact. First, adopt a preference for all biobased products that originate from MT producers. Currently biodiesel is being marketed in MT produced from Midwestern soybeans. While this helps American farmers what is it doing to help Montanans growers? The new ethanol plant being built across the State line in ND will be using MT grown corn. Can we help stimulate MT production if a certain target of MT grown product is used in Williston's new ethanol plant?
Agencies such as DNRC could be purchasing bar/chain oil already being produced in MT as an example. Secondly with $550m of OTO (one time only) State budget surplus, can some incentive be given to get folks to invest locally in processing facilities? We don't want ADM and Cargil coming in later and buying out home grown businesses, this may be a tougher one to stop.
Sincerely,
Steve Simonson
simonson@ronan.net

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