Well not immediately.

Today, the Texas House Committee on Agriculture & Livestock held a public hearing to ‘study and evaluate’, among other subjects, ‘the feasibility and potential economic impact of biofuel production from alternative feedstocks such as biomass, waste oils, and processed animal fats’.

Some of the most interesting testimony, at least to the biodiesel industry in Texas, came from Drew Deberry, Deputy Commissioner - Texas Department of Agriculture. Deputy Commissioner Deberry revealed a preliminary description of a ‘Competitive Grant Program’ to replace the currently unfunded ‘Producer’s Incentive Program’.

The concept is to award State funded grant money to renewable fuel producers, including ethanol, biodiesel, and others, on a ‘competitive’ basis. Preference would be given to those producers using feedstocks that were not used in food or feed.

Emphasis would also go to producers making the least impact on the environment; for example, the amount of water needed for production, the ability to use or market any co-products resulting from the process, etc.

The amount of funding available has not yet been determined, as the program is still under development. Undoubtedly, criteria for receiving the grant will impact the total amount of money needed to fund such a program.

With an overall intent of attracting and increasing renewable fuel production in Texas, the emphasis is to incentivize production of such fuels from feedstock that is not a part of the food or feed industries and produce these fuels as efficiently as possible, with as little environmental impact as possible.

Visit this blog regularly to view any updates on the development of this proposed program.