12/18/07-As part of a special session, the Senate voted to advance a bill to the House that is intended to boost the state’s use of biodiesel through production subsidies.
Sponsored by Sen. Tommy Tomlinson, R-Bucks, SB22 would give biodiesel producers 75 cents per gallon. It would allot $5.25 million annually. The extra subsidies would expire by 2011.
The bill also would increase the per-gallon subsidy from 5 cents to 10 cents for production of other alternative fuels.
It is awaiting assignment to committee in the House. However, final passage will have to wait until after the first of the year when the second year of the two-year session convenes.