INDIANAPOLIS (April 1, 2005) – Governor Mitch Daniels
took the lead in promoting agriculture-based biofuels today by signing the
biofuel bill (HB 1032) into law and accepting the Indiana Soybean Board’s
donation of soy biodiesel fuel for the state’s new RV 1.
The biofuel bill, authored by Representative Steve Heim,
R-Culver, and sponsored by Senator Vic Heinold, R-Kouts, requires state
government to fuel state vehicles with agriculture-based fuels, such as
biodiesel, ethanol, or gasohol, whenever possible.
“Indiana
is a national leader in the development of biofuel technology,” said
Governor Daniels. “RV 1 will
burn the biodiesel, at no cost to taxpayers, and state vehicles will use these
types of fuels to showcase the work of the tens of thousands of Hoosiers
already working with the technology.”
Daniels announced the fuel donation for RV 1 by the Indiana
Soybean Board at the Indiana Statehouse following his first trip in the newly
painted RV. Daniels met with
Hoosiers in Grant and Wabash Counties on Thursday and visited a senior center in Fort Wayne as folks were applying for the Rx for Indiana program on
Friday.
“Governor Daniels is determined that Indiana fully take advantage of its assets
as a leader in soy technology,” said Jim Schriver, President of the
Indiana Soybean Board. “His
commitment to high-tech agriculture is evident in RV One, his action signing the
biofuel bill, and his clean energy initiative to promote the growth of
alternative fuel research, production, and distribution facilities in Indiana. This is a great
day for Indiana
agriculture.”
Also helping in the passage of the bill were House co-authors
Bill Friend, R-Macy; Dale Grubb, D-Covington; Ryan Dvorak, D-South Bend and Senate
co-sponsors Brandt Hershman, R-Wheatfield; Lindel Hume, D-Princeton; John
Broden, D-South Bend; Jeff Drozda, R-Westfield and Richard Young, D-Milltown.
Facts about Biodiesel
About Biodiesel:
Biodiesel
is a clean burning alternative fuel, produced from domestic, renewable
resources, such as soybeans. Biodiesel contains no petroleum, but it can be
blended at any level with petroleum diesel. RV One uses a 20 percent (B20) mixture
of soy biodiesel and traditional diesel fuel. Biodiesel can be used in
compression-ignition (diesel) engines with little or no modifications.
Biodiesel is good
for the environment:
B20 soy
biodiesel reduces hydrocarbons by 20 percent, particulate matter by 12 percent
and carbon monoxide by 12 percent.
Indiana is a leader in
biodiesel technology:
Indiana is leading the nation in biodiesel
distribution infrastructure. We’re home to four of the nation’s 12
fuel terminals with biodiesel-blending capabilities. Indiana
is home to 40 retailers that deliver biodiesel-blended fuels and 39 service
stations with biodiesel blended fuels available at the pump.
Indiana sales of biodiesel blended fuels are expected to increase ten fold from
2004 to 2005, from 20 million to 200 million gallons.
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Office of the Governor media contact: Jane Jankowski,
317/232-1622, jjankowski@gov.in.gov.