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Biodiesel legislation expected in current Arkansas sessionLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP)--Operators of diesel-engine vehicles in Arkansas would have only one option for fuel, biodiesel, if a planned measure is approved by the state Legislature. The bill is intended to help fuel the alternative-energy effort in Arkansas. Sen. Robert Thompson, D-Paragould, plans to file legislation in late January requiring service stations to stop selling regular-petroleum diesel and sell only biodiesel. And House Speaker Benny Petrus, D-Stuttgart, is working with Thompson on a package of biodiesel incentives. "For this industry to survive, in my opinion, we need every diesel pump in this state to be a biodiesel pump," Keith Thompson, chief executive of Green Way Bio Energy, told members of the House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development recently. Thompson's biodiesel company is scheduled to open a 10 million gallon production plant in June on the Arkansas River at Little Rock. About 30 biodiesel pumps operate in the state, according to Steven Danforth, co-founder of Agri Process Innovations. His company provides engineering and technical support for the agricultural industry. Danforth said that, to boost biodiesel consumption, the product will have to be transformed from a specialty to a mainstream fuel. He said demand for biodiesel would reduce dependence on foreign oil and reduce greenhouse gases and global warming. The biodiesel industry also would create jobs, rural development and an alternative energy economy, he said. "It's only going to, in my view, have that opportunity to grow and provide for half the building of the economy of this state in future years if the state gets in and invests on behalf of its citizens in the form of mandates," Jerry Lee Bogard, a member of the state Agriculture Board, told the committee. Danforth said that 27 million gallons of biodiesel are currently produced in Arkansas. Another 115.5 million gallons of production is planned. About three jobs would be created for every million gallons of biodiesel production, he said. At 143 million gallons, that's 429 manufacturing jobs, in addition to construction and support jobs, most in rural or farm areas, he said, estimating an annual payroll of $20 million and a $143 million investment. B 23 2/12/07 5 Star OK Date: 2/6/07
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