"On, Wisconsin!" Leadership Promotes Wisconsin Biodiesel

Jeff Pieterick, President, WBA

from Wisconsin Biodiesel Assocation Newsletter

November 26, 2007

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Leadership is a word that is often diminished in impact for the number of times it is claimed. Sometimes, however, there is simply no other word to use in describing effective, forward-looking efforts made on behalf of the common good.

Here in Wisconsin, for example, we have witnessed a remarkable degree of leadership from many quarters in the effort to wean ourselves from fossil fuels while confronting the many environmental and energy challenges we face.

In an otherwise factious Wisconsin Legislature, for example, leading lawmakers from both sides of the aisle came together recently in solid bi-partisan support of meaningful budget measures that will foster the growth of Wisconsin's biodiesel industry.

Additionally, Governor Doyle has made it a priority in his Administration to establish a renewable energy bioindustry in Wisconsin. Doyle often speaks of the need to increase our reliance upon "renewable fuels produced in the Midwest rather than fossil fuels from the Mideast."

Leadership, as we know, is best expressed in actions rather than words, and Doyle delivers. His hosting of the Midwestern Governors Association's Energy Security & Climate Change Summit resulted in ten states signing The Midwestern Regional Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord. Instead of waiting for Washington or others to take up the fight to effectively address the urgent threat of global warming, these Governors have taken the lead in exploring legitimate carbon cap-and-trade and other means by which we can immediately promote development of a renewable bio-energy industry while reducing greenhouse gases.

Leadership was also abundantly apparent at the recently convened Wisconsin Biodiesel Quality Summit, hosted by Wisconsin Clean Cities. Numerous officials from agencies within State Government, including Judy Ziewacz from the WI Office of Energy Independence, met with biodiesel industry stakeholders from throughout Wisconsin. Together, these representatives from the Doyle Administration and a wide breadth of allied industries and associations came together in a remarkably cooperative effort to arrive at quality assurance provisions and policies that will help brand Wisconsin Biodiesel as a premium alternative fuel product. The takeaway from the summit is that we will soon have landmark state legislative proposals that will enhance consumer confidence in biodiesel as a quality alternative to petroleum fuels.

Finally, Madison will host the second annual Midwest Ag Energy Summit to be convened in March. Last year's event in St. Paul provided a stellar mix of federal and state lawmakers, policymakers and industry experts who brainstormed numerous ideas that we see reflected in the proposed Energy Title of the Farm Bill now being considered by Congress. Gary Radloff from DATCP, Kevin Edberg from Cooperative Development Services, and Wisconsin Farmer's Union President Sue Beitlich served on the Steering Committee for last year's most impressive gathering, and Radloff will Chair this year's event.

The Thanksgiving Holiday is now behind us, but we enter into this Holiday Season with an ongoing sense of thanksgiving for the leadership provided in Wisconsin in support of the biodiesel industry and its contribution toward energy independence and the fight against global warming.   Ultimately, it's important to remember that conservation of our natural resources remains the most effective approach to addressing our energy and environmental needs, especially as the world's appetite for energy increases. But our immediate energy requirements cannot be ignored in the meantime.

At the Wisconsin Biodiesel Association, we support all effortsto remediate the negative impact of the carbon footprint of our energy consumption. We also actively promote the immediate impact that can be made by supplanting fossil fuels with advanced biofuels, particularly Wisconsin biodiesel that will help provide consumers with a quality "Home Grown Fuel for a Better Wisconsin."

Enjoy the Holidays, with a sincere wish from WBA for many Happy Holidays to come.

Regards,

Jeff Pieterick

President Wisconsin Biodiesel Association