Cantwell pushing for biofuel research, development

12:25 PM PDT on Monday, April 11, 2005

By BERNARD CHOI / KING 5 News

SEATTLE - Aaron Kahn is on a road only a small number of Seattle drivers have tried, using biodiesel fuels instead of traditional diesel.

Kahn believes it's the path everyone will be on in the coming years.

"We cannot continue to use gasoline at the levels that we do use it," he said.

The problem is there's not much of a market for biodiesel fuel. Only one or two stations in Seattle offer it. And while biofuels get better mileage, they cost $1 more per gallon. Also, only vehicles that now burn diesel can burn biodiesel.

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Seattle Biodiesel is about to become the first facility in the state to produce biofuels.

"It's always cost. Cost is always an issue," said John Plaza, the founder and owner of Seattle Biodiesel. The company is about to become the first in the state to produce biofuels.

Plaza and analysts say the industry faces a basic challenge: creating supply and demand.

"It's the chicken or the egg. Which one are you going to create first that will make this industry grow. We just say ok if we build it, they will come. That's not necessarily true," said Plaza.

"I think we need to make a significant change now," said Sen. Maria Cantwell, who toured Plaza's facility on Sunday.

Cantwell is proposing to expand federal tax incentives for biofuels and to triple research and development. The program would cost at least $6 billion.

Cantwell has been a vocal opponent of President Bush's plan to drill for oil in Alaska.

"Let's not continue to focus on 10 years from now of fossil fuels that you might get out of a wildlife area and instead make an investment in giving consumers a cleaner, more effordable fuel alternative," said Cantwell.

"U.S. produced biofuels are simply an obvious solution that's time has come," said Kahn.

Supporters say biofuel can also help the state's farmers since crops like corn and grapeseed are used in the production of such fuels.