OLYMPIA – Washington can become a world leader in biofuels and other nonpetroleum energy sources that could ease reliance on foreign oil and help the state’s farm economy at the same time, Gov. Christine Gregoire said Thursday.
The governor and legislative leaders also announced hearings on what they strongly suspect is gasoline price gouging.
Gregoire also told a news conference that Washington is reasonably well prepared for an earthquake or other natural disaster but needs to study ways of improving the response. The joint House-Senate hearings also will take up this topic in October, with locations and times to be announced.
Gregoire said she has asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate whether the oil industry gouged consumers during the recent run-up in prices, particularly after Hurricane Katrina.
Gregoire, who battled Enron Corp.’s energy pricing when she was state attorney general, said there appeared to be no legitimate reason for Washington pump prices to jump 20 cents a gallon in the aftermath of the hurricane.
Washington is remote from the Gulf Coast, relies on Alaskan crude oil and has several refineries, she noted. The state Legislature may well want to pass anti-gouging legislation to protect against a recurrence, she said.
In the longer term, she said, the state should get serious about developing its potential for producing ethanol and other biofuels from Washington-grown grains.
“It improves our energy independence and keeps our petrodollars in Washington,” the governor said. “It creates new jobs in the state, reduces pollution and reduces other environmental problems and risks, and it helps farmers maintain the profitability of their farms.”
Dependence on oil is crippling the state’s farmers, she said.
“Our farmers are paying out more for a gallon of diesel fuel than they earn for a bushel of wheat. We may have the opportunity to plug our farmers right into the fuels they need. They could be producing the crops to make the fuel.”
Gregoire said she has been talking with biofuel companies about setting up shop in Eastern Washington. She gave no specifics.
State Rep. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish, said a biodiesel plant called the New Roosevelt Project is proposed for Spokane, Columbia or Lincoln counties.
“We could have 5 million gallons of biodiesel coming on line next August or September,” he said. “I think we can get something done. It will mean jobs here in Washington, and fuel in the tanks of Washingtonians. I think it’s a great step forward.”
The state motor pool and ferry system would be early customers for biofuel, said Rep. Jeff Morris, D-Anacortes. The Legislature has put in place one of the country’s strongest tax incentive packages, he said.
“The Northwest stands a good chance of becoming a biofuel leader in the world,” he said.
Gregoire added, “The idea that we could be an international leader is real.”
Washington also is doing important work in solar energy, wind-generated power and other alternative sources of energy, she said.
The governor also touted the state’s emergency preparedness, saying the state wouldn’t have been caught as flat-footed as the Gulf Coast region. The state has a clear chain of command and knows that state and local government, not the feds, must be the first responders during the first 72 hours after a disaster, she said.
State Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn, faulted Gregoire for talking about biofuels and oil dependency rather than putting sole emphasis on state residents being prepared to survive a disaster.
“She should stick to talking about survival. She should be alerting our people about storing up food and water and flashlights, first-aid kits, being ready to leave damaged residences, completing a ham radio network for Washington state, and talking about how families can stay in communication with each other in a disaster,” Roach said.
“Katrina is not an opportunity to move forward an environmental or energy agenda.”
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