MonticelloLive

The state Agriculture Department has received more than 60 applications for grants to develop alternative fuels, such as ethanol and biofuels. The department has approved seven.

Several more applications are expected to be approved soon, according to the state Agriculture Secretary. The Alternative Fuels Development grants that have been approved so far total more than $6 million.

The legislature created the grant program last year when it approved Act 873 of 2007. It is administered by the Agriculture Department. Act 873 creates three types of grant incentives, for investments made after Jan. 1, 2007.

One incentive is for alternative fuels producers. Another is for feedstock processors and a third aims to enhance distribution networks by providing incentives to alternative fuels distributors. Incentive grants for producers are based on the number of gallons produced. They are spent to build, modify or retrofit facilities.

Act 837 defines alternative fuels, such as ethanol, and it also defines biomass, which is used to produce biofuels. The act lists types of biomass, including residue and byproducts from agricultural production and processing. It includes forestry and wood byproducts, as well as plants like switchgrass that can be used to make alternative fuels.

In Arkansas, promotion of the biofuels industry has been a goal of lawmakers because it would reduce our dependence on imports of petroleum from abroad.

Also, production of biofuels will boost the economies of many rural communities throughout the state.

Agricultural areas in Arkansas benefit because increased production of biofuels has created more demand for corn, soybeans and other crops. This has generated some controversy in recent months because of food inflation, however.

There are some who blame higher food prices on biofuels production, alleging that the increased demand is driving up the price of corn and other staple products. On the other hand, many agricultural experts attribute higher food prices to the increased cost of farming due to higher gasoline and diesel prices.

Operating farm machinery and tractors costs more than it used to, and it also costs more to transport farm products to market. Boosting production of biofuels will eventually provide cheaper alternatives to petroleum, and thus can help hold down the costs of farming.

The state Agriculture Secretary reported to the Agricultural Board that Arkansas will eventually be able to use rice husks and forest products as biomass to create alternative fuels. Those sources of energy are not consumed as food, so their use in alternative fuels will not drive up demand and prices of food.

It is expected that by the end of this summer Arkansas will have five biofuels production facilities in operation.

Drug Courts
About 1,000 people have successfully completed drug court programs in Arkansas, and another 1,600 people are now in the programs. There are 39 drug courts in Arkansas. In the 2009 legislative session, lawmakers will consider adding a few more in areas that do not have them.