• Improve economic vitality of Washington farmers and rural communities through added income sources and reduced cost of production.
• Protect human health and the environment through reduced energy-related inputs and emissions.

Accomplishments

• Assembled the Washington State Bioenergy Team, a cooperative gathering of state agencies and universities dedicated to interagency coordination and successful implementation of the state?s bioenergy initiatives and goal, June 2006. The Bioenergy Team issued its 2006 Status Report in January 2007. WSDA remains an active member of the team, which is now led by Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development.
• Completed Energy Freedom Loan agreements, issuing $13 million dollars in low-interest loans supporting renewable energy projects in Washington State, June 2006-June 2007. While WSDA administers the loan agreements it completed, the Energy Freedom Loan Program was moved to Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development in June 2007.
• Convened the Biofuels Advisory Committee, January 2007. The Advisory Committee completed its report to the Director of Agriculture in August 2007. The report included a status report on biofuels in Washington State as well as recommendations on agricultural matters related to biofuels. The Committee?s work was completed with publication of the report.
• Coordinates with WSU on state-funded, agricultural bioenergy research. Current projects includes: fundamental agronomic research on oilseed and cellulosic crops, near-term anaerobic digester research, and oilseed co-product development. The research effort seeks to convey transformative information and technology to Washington farmers as quickly as possible, August 2007-present.
• Partnered with WSU Extension to develop biofuels crop outreach/education program. This program seeks to transfer the early results of WSU biofuels crop research to Washington farmers. Between June 2008 and September 2009, the project will hold as many as 18 grower field days and workshops throughout the state, February 2008-present.