Bloglander

After a hearing last week concerning a bill put forth by Washington state Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, Washington’s aircrafts are one step closer to becoming dependent on biofuel.

“I am encouraged by the widespread positive response to this legislation,” Brown said in a statement, adding that moving away from fossil fuels will provide a clean fuel that can be produced in the state, providing jobs. “On Monday, representatives from Boeing, WSU, the Department of Housing and Finance, the Department of Natural Resources, and Climate Solutions all testified in favor of this bill at a public hearing.”

The bill, if turned into law, will “support the development of commercial-scale aviation biofuels production facilities in Washington by facilitating and streamlining the permitting process for new facilities and the expansion of existing facilities and by providing access to low-cost financing through the issuance of revenue bonds.”

“Washington has an important role in the industry of biotechnology,” says Todd Woodard, spokesman for the Spokane International Airport.

Alaska Airlines, Boeing, Portland International Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Spokane International Airport have been part of Sustainable Aviation Fuels Northwest (SAFN) an organization dedicated to promoting the use and development of biofuels in the Pacific Northwest.

“Washington State University is also a global leader in biotechnology,” says Woodard.

The high cost of importing fossil fuels from overseas has a great impact on an airline’s budget. The cost of fossil fuels in 2011 reduced the profit of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to $8.6 billion, a 46 percent decline in net profits from 2010’s $16 billion.