HCS HB 1002 -- MISSOURI QUALIFIED BIODIESEL PRODUCERS

SPONSOR:  Munzlinger (Fisher)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Special Committee on
Agri-Business by a vote of 10 to 0.

Currently, a biodiesel producer incentive grant is calculated
based on the estimated number of gallons of biodiesel produced
from Missouri agricultural products.  This substitute removes the
instate or Missouri agricultural product origin requirement of at
least 51% Missouri producer owned for a renewable fuel production
facility to be eligible for the grant.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2008, FY 2009, and
FY 2010.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that feed stock processed to make
biodiesel that originated in Missouri but is processed in another
state requires verification by the out-of-state processor in
order for the qualified biodiesel producer to qualify for grants
under the Qualified Biodiesel Producer Incentive Program.
Processors in other states have no incentive to provide the
verification; and therefore, potential biodiesel producers must
absorb the cost of transporting feed stock from other parts of
the state which hinders potential biodiesel producers from
operating facilities in parts of the state where there is not a
soybean crushing facility.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Fisher; Missouri
Agribusiness Association; and Peter Myers, Great River
Cooperative.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that biodiesel
incentives should be awarded to qualified biodiesel producers
using Missouri agricultural products as feed stock.  If
non-Missouri feed stock is eligible, there will be the potential
for non-Missouri-based agribusinesses to partner with Missouri
producers to qualify for biodiesel incentives.

Testifying against the bill was Missouri Soybean Association.

OTHERS:  Others testifying on the bill say that currently
biodiesel production facilities must be at least 51% Missouri
producer owned or at least 80% of the feed stock used to produce
biodiesel must be from Missouri agricultural products to be a
qualified biodiesel producer.  In either case, feed stock for
biodiesel production must be a Missouri agricultural product for
producer qualification to receive biodiesel producer incentives.

Testifying on the bill was Department of Agriculture.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated July 25, 2007 at 11:21 am