Kegel: Restoration of biodiesel funding crucial

Kegel: Restoration of biodiesel funding crucial

Tim Leeds

The dean of Montana State University-Northern's College of Technology said the proposed state cut to funding biofuels research would significantly hurt the program, now up and running for some five years.

"We just need the support to keep operating, " Dean Greg Kegel said while on his way to Helena Thursday.

A House appropriations subcommittee, which cut $32 million from Gov. Brian Schweitzer's proposed budget for the university system, included cutting a two-year appropriation for $400,000 from the budget.

"The bottom line is it's very important to get funded and supported on the state side, " he said.

Rep. Kris Hansen, R-Havre, said it is still very early in the process and the funding could be restored. She said she talked to members of the committee now working on the budget.

"No promises were made, but I did get a clear impression that we will get a fair shake to get those funds restored, " she said.

She said it would be a very good time for people who support the program — especially farmers and ranchers looking at raising feedstock to make biofuels — to get involved.

"Now would be a very good time for Havre folks to start calling and sending polite and encouraging e-mails and letters to the members — Republican and Democrat — of the Appropriations Committee, " she said.

She added that it also would help for people to let Schweitzer know of their support.

"There are certainly other programs clamoring for funds and not everything will get funded this year, " Hansen said. "We don't want the governor to think our program is less valuable. "

Kegel said the program is continuing to expand, including coming near to the conclusion of a year-long test with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway using local biodiesel in a locomotive. It also is expanding its work on creating organically based jet fuel, and also could tie in with a new multi-institution consortium to test unmanned aircraft in the region.

Aside from the jobs it could create in the manufacture of biofuels and in raising crops for them, the university has 12 people working in the biodiesel lab and is in the process of hiring more, he said.

The dean of Montana State University-Northern's College of Technology said the proposed state cut to funding biofuels research would significantly hurt the program, now up and running for some five years.

"We just need the support to keep operating, " Dean Greg Kegel said while on his way to Helena Thursday.

A House appropriations subcommittee, which cut $32 million from Gov. Brian Schweitzer's proposed budget for the university system, included cutting a two-year appropriation for $400,000 from the budget.

"The bottom line is it's very important to get funded and supported on the state side," he said.

Rep. Kris Hansen, R-Havre, said it is still very early in the process and the funding could be restored. She said she talked to members of the committee now working on the budget.

"No promises were made, but I did get a clear impression that we will get a fair shake to get those funds restored, " she said.

She said it would be a very good time for people who support the program — especially farmers and ranchers looking at raising feedstock to make biofuels — to get involved.

"Now would be a very good time for Havre folks to start calling and sending polite and encouraging e-mails and letters to the members — Republican and Democrat — of the Appropriations Committee, " she said.

She added that it also would help for people to let Schweitzer know of their support.

"There are certainly other programs clamoring for funds and not everything will get funded this year, " Hansen said. "We don't want the governor to think our program is less valuable. "

Kegel said the program is continuing to expand, including coming near to the conclusion of a year-long test with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway using local biodiesel in a locomotive. It also is expanding its work on creating organically based jet fuel, and also could tie in with a new multi-institution consortium to test unmanned aircraft in the region.

Aside from the jobs it could create in the manufacture of biofuels and in raising crops for them, the university has 12 people working in the biodiesel lab and is in the process of hiring more, he said.