W ith all of the excitement about biofuels, biodiesel and ethanol, and the many proposals in Olympia to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, a lot of confusing information is circulating.

Let’s look at the facts, and you decide if these renewable, clean, domestically produced sources of energy are in our state’s best interest.

First, some necessary background. Those of us who are old enough will never forget the Mideast oil embargo and long lines at the gas station in the 1970s. At that time our country was importing about 30 percent of our domestic oil needs. It was also in that decade that domestic oil production peaked.

We are now producing less oil and our production is continuing to decline. Unfortunately, our domestic consumption of petroleum has continued to rise dramatically.

We all need transportation fuels to get around. But I am not proud that our country controls only 2 to 3 percent of known world oil reserves, yet we consume 25 percent of total world production.

Today, we are importing nearly 60 percent of our oil from foreign countries. The volatile Mideast controls nearly two-thirds of known world oil reserves. As vulnerable as we were in the 1970s, we now find ourselves much more dependent than we were prior to 1970. So what do we do?

There is no single solution, but many of the necessary changes will significantly improve our state’s economy and our national security. Without these changes, we face a disastrous energy situation. We can’t afford to wait until technology allows these renewable energy sources to be cheaper than fossil fuels, which are heavily subsidized by taxpayers. If we don’t act quickly, we will greatly increase our vulnerability to a disruption in our energy supply.

This is precisely why our state and federal governments should aggressively support the development of clean, domestic, renewable energy.

Biodiesel and ethanol development alone will not get us where we need to be. We need to actively pursue all of our renewable energy alternatives if we are to effectively reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Today, let’s look at the biofuels.

“Biodiesel” refers to a petroleum diesel-compatible fuel that can be refined from vegetable oil, animal fat and many other “feedstocks” that are abundant in our state and country. The fuel that is refined from these domestically produced sources burns cleaner than petroleum fuel, reducing air and water pollution. Most biodiesel produced in our country today is from soybean oil; however, biodiesel can be made from canola, mustard, safflower, sunflower or any other oilseed crop that is compatible with our Pacific Northwest growing conditions.

Ethanol has an even broader feedstock portfolio. The 90 operating ethanol facilities, mostly in the Midwest, use corn as a feedstock. Here in the Pacific Northwest, nearly all the crops and crop waste, as well as forest products, are potential sources of ethanol.

Ethanol mixes readily with gasoline and requires no engine modifications in mixtures up to 20 percent. With minor modifications or a “flex-fuel” designed engine, 85 percent ethanol can be used in today’s cars and light trucks. These modifications cost less than $200 per vehicle. Performance and fuel economy for 85 percent ethanol (E-85) is very nearly as good as regular gasoline. And in most sales areas it is selling for less than gasoline.

Our state legislators are considering a renewable fuel standard (RFS) for Washington. I urge you to contact your legislators and ask them to support the governor’s RFS legislation. Our governor is reaching out to the red side of the state on an issue that has no political boundaries. Developing an in-state renewable fuels industry is very important to both sides of our state.

These domestic, renewable fuels will help our energy security and economic security. They will reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. They’ll take the money that we’re sending to the royalty in oil-exporting nations and plough it back into our communities. They’ll boost our state’s agricultural economy and make us less dependent on farm price supports. They will create jobs and rural development. It is truly a win, win, win for Washington state.