The Georgia State Legislature is considering a measure that would mandate that all diesel sold in the state would have at least 2 percent biodiesel.
This story in the Macon (GA) Telegraph says the bill’s sponsor expects opposition to his bill:
Rep. Alan Freeman, R-Macon, said House Bill 1174 would help farmers and agribusinesses in Georgia’s small but growing biofuel industry. With co-sponsors that include the Democratic minority leader and the governor’s floor leader, Freeman said he hopes the measure can win passage.
“I think the bill has merit, but the opposition is going to come from the word ‘mandate,’ ” Freeman said. “
Indeed, the head of the Georgia Oilmen’s Association, whose members would be required to sell the blended fuel, said he is strongly opposed.
The state’s biofuel industry and fuel distributors are not yet ready to meet the mandate to include biological fuel such as soybean oil or chicken-fat derivatives in all diesel fuel, said Roger Lane, president of association. And even if they were, he would oppose it, Lane said.
“I think it’s a bad bill and anti-business,” Lane said. “If there’s a need for that product to exist, it will. I have no intention of supporting legislation that mandates a product.”
Gee, there’s a stunner. Someone in the oil business opposed to biodiesel. Freeman counters the argument by pointing out that there’s already more than enough soybean oil, rendered chicken fat, and other biofuels to meet the anticipated demand of 40 million gallons a year for Georgia.
Keep an eye on this one. I expect that this could be a real fight.
Jack Purdy, who has farmed in Woodstock for more than 30 years, now also is the owner of P.K. Biodiesel — a plant on his farm that makes fuel from soybean oil.
Now I can tell you that algae as an additional feedstock for biodiesel was a hot topic of discussion at the recent National Biodiesel Conference and Expo in Orlando, Florida. In fact, the last general session of the conference included a discussion of the various feedstocks, including talk about how algae could produce a thousand gallons of oil for every acre grown. 
The statement from the 25x’25 Alliance says, “environmentally sensitive lands should not be exploited in pursuit of renewable fuels. In fact, we have long held that the growing increase in demand for energy, along with food, feed and fiber, can be met with a boost in production facilitated by advances in technology.”
This is the third ethanol plant investment for The Andersons, according to CEO Mike Anderson. “Locating in Darke County, the largest corn-producing county in the state, is ideal and the community’s reception has been exceptional. In addition to providing a viable alternative fuel source for our country, we look forward to serving the local farming community through corn sourcing and high-quality distillers dried grains.”
According to the report, “increasing public concerns about climate change — and its potential economic and political security consequences — are driving public policy and private investment to bring clean energy technologies from the fringes of the global energy industry to the center of activities as quickly as possible.”
The man behind the movie 