Doyle announces $5 million in state budget for bio-based industry development

New Richmond, Wis. - Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle said he would sign into the state budget up to $5 million for agricultural and forestry bio-industry development. The funds are part of a major new bio-based initiative announced in June.

"A growing bio-economy will help rural communities and local farmers secure a place in Wisconsin's economic future by creating new markets for their products," Doyle said. "And investing in our bio-industries is not only good for our economy. It is good for the environment, and helps reduce our dependence on foreign oil."

The governor announced that his budget would include:

A $1 million grant program for agricultural businesses. These grants will help entrepreneurs develop ways to use plant and animal resources for no-waste, bio-based energy, fuels or products.

Up to $4 million grant program for the forestry industry. These grants will leverage federal dollars for the research, development, and implementation of forestry biomass technology in Wisconsin - encouraging the use of forestry biomass as an energy source. "When you hear Silicon Valley, you think of California and its high tech start-ups," Doyle said. "When people think about Wisconsin, I want them to think of it as the No. 1 place to invest their time and money in bio-based industry development."

Bio-based products now on the market include renewable fuels, such as E85, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and gasoline; and soy-diesel; renewable energy such as electricity from manure digesters; and a wide range of products including lubricants, bio-degradable packaging, bio-degradable plastics, fabrics and biopharmaceuticals.

"Anything that can be made from petroleum can now be made from plants," Doyle said. "When it comes to our energy future, we need to be less dependent on the Mid East, and more dependent on the Midwest."