By Brad Haire
University of Georgia

Plains, Ga. — Georgia legislators and policymakers met with
biodiesel industry leaders from around the country here Aug. 26
to discuss ways to encourage the processing and distribution of
biodiesel in Georgia. And a former U.S. president is all for
it.

“This is a day for sharing,” former President Jimmy Carter told
about 60 people at the Georgia Biodiesel Summit. The event was
sponsored by the University of Georgia College of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences’ Center for Emerging Crops and
Technologies.

“What we’re looking for today,” Carter said, “is what
specifically does Georgia need to do — the legislature and
different department heads — to make sure research and
development, agriculture and the environment all come together
to alleviate any impediments that might not even be detectable
now but that have been identified by industry.”

Cleaner fuel

Biodiesel is the name for a variety of oxygenated fuels made
from oilseeds or animal fats. It burns cleaner and is
environmentally safer than petroleum diesel. And existing diesel
engines and equipment don’t need to be altered to use
biodiesel.

According to a recent biodiesel study by the UGA Center for
Agribusiness and Economic Development, Georgia annually produces
about 55 million gallons of oilseeds and animal fats from which
biodiesel could be made. The state could supply a moderate-sized
biodiesel plant, which would provide an economic impact of $8
million and contribute $800,000 in state taxes each year.

Tax incentives and special financing are just a few ways state
leaders can help establish a biodiesel industry in Georgia, said
John McKissick, CAED coordinator.

“But the key to benefitting Georgia (farmers) and communities
will be to have any incentives based on a biofuel product
produced in Georgia from Georgia products,” McKissick said.

Collaborative

Financial times are tight for Georgia’s General Assembly and
state agencies. But Georgia can’t afford to not go forward with
biodiesel production, said Terry Coleman (D-Eastman), speaker of
the Georgia House of Representatives.

“We could put together a collaborative between Georgia’s
agricultural and environmental departments and add the
university system’s, experiment stations’ and our other research
capabilities,” Coleman said. “We may not have a large pot of
money. But by putting some effort into a collaborative, there
may be an opportunity for us to begin this process.”

Adding value to Georgia farm products, such as through biodiesel
processing, is one of the best ways to improve Georgia’s farm
economy, said Gale Buchanan, CAES dean and director.

“What we have to do at the university is provide the education
and the information-delivery and hope we can get industry
interested,” Buchanan said. “And this meeting today is where you
get something off the ground. We hope it’s the start of
something important for Georgia.”