Representative Jay Inslee’s New Apollo Project envisions a national endeavor to harness America’s genius to invent and deploy clean energy technologies. (PI*, 12/12/02) Inslee notes that the dominant manufacturers of hybrid cars; wind turbines; photovoltaic panels are in other countries and asks why our country is ceding clean energy production when we are the seedbed of technological innovation.

Could this region be the center of this endeavor to take control of this issue? Two forces I know make me think we just might be. .

One is the growing biodiesel fad in this state. (PI*, 2/18/05) Biodiesel is made from vegetable oil, methanol, and lye and can be used in most diesel engines. It is biodegradable, non-toxic, carbon neutral, and produces significantly less greenhouse gas emissions than either gas or diesel. It is cleaner for the engine and nets more miles per gallon than gas. The exhaust smells like french fries or popcorn. It does cost more, however. .

Diesel cars, both old and new, are selling like hotcakes. Dr. Dan’s Alternative Fuel Werks which sells biodiesel, started with 15 customers three years ago and now has about 800. Some people brew it at home or in coops, utilizing used cooking oil from restaurants, which give it freely as they otherwise pay to have it taken away. Washington State is probably one of the largest biodiesel users in this country.

The Energy Policy Act of 1992, required federal and state fleets to purchase alternative fuel vehicles. As a result, many government vehicles now use biodiesel. For a while at least, Seattle City Light paid for the fuel to run the Seattle-Vashon-Southworth Ferry on biodiesel. Some private companies have chosen biodiesel as well for its environmental benefits.

To create biodiesel in mass quantities, you must grow the crops, extract oil with an industrial oil crusher, and then process it. There is a movement to have all of these functions happen within Washington State. Should this succeed, maybe the state could start exporting biodiesel knowledge.

The second force is happening within Kitsap County where Mark Frost and Tim Botkin are undertaking the Sustainable Economic and Energy Development (SEED) project. Funded partially with a matching grant from the Port of Bremerton, they have just finished a feasibility study that has demonstrated that they could generate between 500 – 2000 jobs. The Port of Bremerton has set aside 40 – 60 acres near the Bremerton Airport for the development of this project. The focus is not so much on biodiesel as it is on biolubricants, which is also biodegradable. They are also interested in the development of both solar and wind power. .

*PI = Post Intelligencer.

UPDATE: The Washington State Legislature has now past a bill which has been signed into law by the Governor which provides a variety of incentives to promote the growth of biofuel crops, in-state production of biofuels, as well as an increase in their use. See the following websites for more information: .