A new Wisconsin group is trying to develop the state's growing biobased industry. The Wisconsin Bio Industry Alliance was officially announced earlier this month with a focus on the development of bio-based renewable energy, power and products.

The group, which is heavily comprised of representatives from Wisconsin ethanol producers, is a natural spin-off of the Wisconsin Ethanol Coalition and Gov. Jim Doyle's Consortium on Bio Based Industry, according to Josh Morby, spokesman for the Bio Industry Alliance.

The group's executive board is a who's who list of ethanol production in Wisconsin. The board includes John Malchine of Badger State Ethanol, Steve Christensen of Western Wisconsin Grain Producers, Alex Samarzdich and Bob Sather of Ace Ethanol, Bob Welch of Utica Energy, and Kevin Roche and Jerry Franz of United Wisconsin Grain Producers.

Malchine was also co-chair of the state's Bio Based Industry Consortium. One of that group's recommendations was to create a partnership of Wisconsin firms involved in the bio industry.

The Bio Industry Alliance is a nonprofit organization with a primary focus of providing market opportunities for companies and researchers, according to Morby. "This really started as a private sector-driven policy development and education organization," he said.

The group's Web site lists a variety of goals, including helping researchers, emerging businesses and entrepreneurs access federal and state grants, provide technical assistance to developers, and work with regulators to build a framework for bio industry technology that protects the environment and grows Wisconsin's economy.

Morby said the group, which also includes biodiesel industry stakeholders, is expected to meet on a monthly basis.

Wisconsin has five operational ethanol plants and four more under construction. Upon completion, the state will have capacity to produce more than 470 MMgy of ethanol.

Wisconsin's eastern neighbor held the second meeting of its Michigan Renewable Fuels Commission in Detroit, Mich., on Jan. 11. The commission was created by a group of renewable fuel-related bills signed into law by Gov. Jennifer Granholm in July 2006.

The group's formational meeting was held Nov. 30, 2006. The Jan. 11 meeting split the group's 25 commissioners into areas of focus, including feedstocks, production of fuel supply, public education and marketing, and distribution and infrastructure.

Commissioner Dick Vande Vusse, president of Ag Solutions Inc., said the initial meeting was to the direct the committee's focus. Ag Solutions Inc. is a 5 MMgy biodiesel plant located in Gladstone, Mich.

Vande Vusse said the November meeting featured discussion on biofuel feedstock potential, as well as tying in the research being conducted by institutions in the state. "How can we tie them together and utilize them as a base to get us to the next level?" he said. "We'll look at legislative regulatory issues that are a hindrance or could be a help to create growth in renewable fuels."

The commission's next meeting will be held Feb. 26 and Michigan State University.

Dave Nilles is Online Editor for Ethanol Producer Magazine. Reach him at dnilles@bbibiofuels.com or (701) 373-0636.

Posted: 12:23 p.m. CST Monday, January 15, 2007