Massachusetts pushing for biofuel

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick introduced a bill to promote advanced biofuels in the state that would require biofuel blends for home heating and provide tax incentives for producers of cellulosic ethanol.

Several other states have biodiesel content standards, but the bill would make Massachusetts the first to establish a biofuel standard for home heating oil, which Patrick said was of particular significance because the Northeast makes much greater use of oil for home heating than other parts of the country.

"We need to add clean fuels to the mix today, but we also have to look ahead to the renewable fuel that will do the most good for the commonwealth's environment, energy efficiency and economy," said Patrick. "The state gas tax exemption for cellulosic ethanol is a big step in the right direction."

The legislation would exempt from the state gasoline tax ethanol derived from sources such as forest products, switchgrass and agricultural wastes. Diesel and home heating fuel sold in the state would need a minimum of 2 percent biobased alternatives in their blends in 2010 under the proposal, rising to 5 percent in 2013.

"New England is addicted to foreign oil," said U.S. Rep. William Delahunt, who released a report detailing the benefits of biofuels for Massachusetts.

"In Massachusetts alone, we spend more than $9 billion a year on petroleum, and it is very clear where most of those dollars are going," he said, noting that Saudi Arabia alone made $160 billion in 2005 exporting oil.

According to the report, prepared for the congressman by the Northeast Biofuels Collaborative, Massachusetts is the third largest heating oil market in the country.