Wisconsin’s governor is proposing an aggressive plan to make his state a leader in renewable energy.
From the text of Gov. Jim Doyle’s speech, he has called for lawmakers to approve his strategy to increase his state’s homegrown power through the Wisconsin Energy Independence Fund:
Over the next 10 years Wisconsin will invest $150 million to help our businesses, our farmers, our foresters, and our manufacturers produce and promote renewable energy.
Our strong manufacturing base and rich agricultural industries, along with the wealth of resources in our vast northern forests and world-leading research universities, position Wisconsin to become the Saudi Arabia of renewable energy.
From manufacturing wind turbines and solar panels to retro-fitting fuel pumps and exploring the latest clean technologies, we will seize green opportunities and create good jobs for our citizens.
But we won’t stop there.
Tonight we’ll launch a new campaign to increase the availability of renewable fuel by 1 billion gallons. First we’ll provide new tax credits for biodiesel fuel producers and add 400 new renewable fuel pumps to our roads. Second let’s pass a renewable fuel standard sponsored by Senator Kreitlow and Representative Suder to require oil companies to provide renewable fuel for our consumers.
Doyle pointed out that ethanol production in Wisconsin has gone from none to half a billion gallons a year since he took office. He says this country needs to depend more on the Midwest… and less on the Mideast.
Blunt recently announced proposals for $2 million in tax incentives for retailers who install E-85 ethanol pumps and a statewide five percent biodiesel standard.
North Dakota State University and USDA’s Agricultural Research Service are working on ways to convert cropland to biomass production for energy use. 
The move is being applauded by the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association in 
“Over the next few weeks biodiesel will be put to the ultimate extreme cold weather iron man test,” said Gordon Quaiattini, President of the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association. “We are confident these tests will confirm adverse condition tests in the USA and Europe, and will reconfirm biodiesel as a viable tool in diversifying our energy supply and reducing green house gases.”
The first large-scale ethanol plant in Texas opened this week in Hereford. 
ESPN’s Winter X Games 12 is set to begin on Wednesday, and organizers say, despite the mountains of snow, it will be greener than ever. It’s not global warming taking its toll… it’s green fuel.
You can catch all of the action January 24-27 at Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen, Colorado on ESPN. Click 
Dan Goodman is preaching, and his disciples are students who spread the word even further. But he’s not a minister at a pulpit. He has a non-profit venture called Biodiesel University that gives students hands-on experience producing the renewable fuel, while educating consumers on the benefits of biodiesel.
“Although our title is Biodiesel University, the lessons in general should be about environmental stewardship and getting kids excited about the environment and technology. It’s unusual that a school would be able to afford or get to have a lot of industrial-grade cutting edge stuff at the school.”
Among the investors is Andy Blunt, pictured in the AP photo with his brother Gov. Matt Blunt. So far, he is holding on to his shares as plant officials try to negotiate a compromise with State Treasurer Sarah Steelman. State Rep. John Quinn of Chillicothe also owns shares in the plant and he believes the treasurer’s office should relax its policy, perhaps allowing up to 5 percent of investors to have political connections. 
The winners of this year’s “Farm to Fuel” grants are: