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For nearly two years, Ohio Farm Bureau has worked with corn and soybean farmer leadership to get the state legislature to pass a bill that would boost biofuels use in Ohio. Last month those efforts paid off.

On May 9, the House concurred 95-0 with the Senate on House Bill 245, which will help Ohio promote the use of soy biodiesel and ethanol. The House and Senate had unanimously passed the bill previously. Gov. Bob Taft was expected to sign the bill into law.

"Farm Bureau was involved with others in a grassroots lobbying effort to get the legislature to pass the bill," said Rocky Black, director of legislative affairs for Ohio Farm Bureau. "This is a major step in getting biofuels to the retail market. This bill will put the fuel at the pump."

The Ohio Corn Growers Association and Ohio Soybean Association proposed many of these ideas almost two years ago. Rep. Steve Reinhard, R-Bucyrus, sponsored the bill, which supports the use of renewable fuels and calls for providing grants to help support the development of E85, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, and biodiesel facilities. Ethanol is a completely renewable fuel that is most commonly made from corn. Biodiesel is sourced from soybeans.

The bill contains a $1 million state grant for the installation of E85 and biodiesel retail pumps. Ohio has more than 150,000 cars with flexible fuel systems, meaning they can use regular gasoline or E85, but only six retail E85 fueling pumps. In comparison, Illinois has more than 120 stations and Minnesota more than 200. The $1 million grant will pave the way for up to 75 new pumps to be installed over the next two to three years, Black said.

HB 245 requires all state flexible fuel system vehicles to use renewable of alternative fuels. This would cover all diesel vehicles and the approximately 2,000 flexible-fuel state vehicles. School districts and other government fleets that have private refueling facilities also can apply for the grants. The bill requires the state to continue purchasing a high percentage of alternative fuel capable vehicles.

OFBF staff members and farmers from several counties talked with lawmakers about the importance of passing the bill, which was a "key vote," or a vote by which positive support for agriculture is assessed. Ohio Farm Bureau also helped organize a news conference in March to help revive interest in the bill.

"House Bill 245 is a great start in putting Ohio on the map in helping to reduce our country’s dependence on foreign oil while stimulating the state’s economic growth," said John Lumpe, executive director of the Ohio Soybean Association.