Ag Secretary Highlights Pennsylvania's Commitment to Renewable Energy
HARRISBURG-- Pennsylvania agriculture, under the direction of Governor Edward G. Rendell, is committed to increasing the development and use of alternative fuel sources like biodiesel, a renewable diesel fuel substitute, Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff said.
“Alternative energy is important to the agriculture industry and to all Pennsylvanians,” said Wolff during a tour of Keystone BioFuels in Shiremanstown, Cumberland County. “Our farmers are going to play a key role in driving the commonwealth through alternative fuels for cars, equipment and home heating. This will boost the economy, providing jobs and adding more than $1 billion of revenue in the next decade.”
Keystone BioFuels is the state’s first company to manufacture and ship biodiesel made from Pennsylvania-grown soybeans. The company, in operation since March 2006, is currently producing 3,000 gallons of soy diesel per day, with the potential to produce one million gallons per year. A $6 million expansion is planned for year’s end, enabling the production and storage of 5 million to 7 million gallons of soy diesel.
In Pennsylvania, there is a growing interest in producing and using biodiesel. As much as 40 million gallons of biofuel production is expected to come on line during the next year, making the state the leader in soy-based fuel production nationwide.
“The production of soy diesel in Pennsylvania is a win-win for our agricultural industry,” said Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff. “Soybean growers will have new markets to sell their crops for soy diesel production. In turn, they will have access to a cleaner, more efficient fuel to operate their equipment.”
Last year, Pennsylvania farmers harvested 420,000 acres of soybeans and an estimated 450,000 acres of soybeans were planted this spring.
Within the next decade, the state’s alternative fuels industry is expected to use 546 million bushels of corn and 5.1 billion pounds of fats and oils to make ethanol and biodiesel. Half of the corn and nearly two-thirds of the fats and oils are predicted to be produced by Pennsylvania farmers.
Governor Rendell recently launched the PennSecurity Fuels initiative, ensuring that after 10 years, Pennsylvania will generate 900 million gallons annually of domestically-produced fuel for the state’s gasoline and diesel supplies. The plan spurs clean domestic fuel development, diversifying supplies to enhance security and stabilize costs, furthering the commonwealth’s solid leadership in deploying homegrown energy solutions.
“Energy security is one of the most pressing issues facing not only Pennsylvania, but all of America. Governor Rendell's alternative fuels standard not only provides a secure source of fuels, it also will unleash a multiplier effect across local and regional economies that will yield significant economic benefits,” Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty said. “Instead of spending overseas, Governor Rendell and entrepreneurs such as Race Miner of Keystone Biofuels are investing at home and putting Pennsylvanians to work.”
For more information about Governor Rendell’s renewable energy initiatives, visit the Department of Environmental Protection at
www.depweb.state.pa.us and click on ‘Energy Topics.’
