Wisconsin's Secretary of Agriculture is heading up efforts to increase the use of bio-energy sources. Ag Secretary Rod Nilsestuen is heading up a 12 state consortium on developing bio-economies. He says the basic goal is to expand the use of biomass, identify where states can work together, and to raise the public profile of alternative energy resources.
Nilsestuen says the effort could raise Wisconsin's status as an important player in the bio-fuel market. He wants to make the "farm belt" status the region enjoys into more of a "bio-belt."
The Secretary says the consortium will play an important role in meeting Governor Doyle's goal of having 25 percent of Wisconsin's energy coming from renewable sources by the year 2025. States involved in the group will focus on creating new ethanol plants and researching bio-technologies.
