Washington to get into the jet biofuel business?

Published 1:18 pm Tuesday, January 11, 2011

The state of Washington could work its way into the jet biofuel business.

That’s if Washington Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark has anything to do with it.

Goldmark says he will propose legislation to promote making aviation fuel out of wood waste, according to an AP report.

Speaking at the Pacific West Biomass Conference in Seattle, Goldmark said on Tuesday that he wants to start a pilot project to make jet fuel as part of the Department of Natural Resources’ forest biomass program.

The Boeing Co., the Port of Seattle and the state Commerce Department support the proposal, the natural resources department said.

Boeing, Airbus, the U.S. Air Force and several airlines have been studying different alternative fuels made from plants and other sources.