I have been a pioneer and advocate of alternative energy for over a decade – when the first ethanol plant was first opened in Wisconsin. In fact, I served on an alternative energy task for under Tommy Thompson in the mid 90s.
I am a board member and co-founder of Badger Agvest – an organization that encourages innovative and cutting edge projects in the bio-energy and bio technology industries. These technologies include, but are not limited to, wind, solar, cellulosic, ethanol and bio diesel.
I have also worked closely with Governor Doyle’s office as an incentive was put in place for the production of Biodiesel, an alternative to petroleum diesel fuel that can be made from a whole host of feedstocks.
I have been involved in committee work as the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the USDA Forest Products Laboratory obtained one of the largest federal grants from the Department of Energy to explore ethanol production from cellulose feedstock in an effort to look beyond commodity corn.
I am passionate about the fact that we have to look beyond petroleum for a fuel source. But I also believe that we have to look beyond commodity corn and soybeans as feed stocks to assure a sustainable alternative energy source and to guarantee that this emerging industry benefits the state of Wisconsin’s economy for a long time to come.