WILLMAR -- At its regular meeting Thursday, the City of Willmar Economic Development Commission Agribusiness/Renewable Energy Committee approved encouraging the county to use biodiesel, which is derived from soybean oil, in all diesel engines.
Committee members will approach the County Board to begin discussing biodiesel use by county vehicles, according to the committee's chair Wade Gustafson.
The committee examined county policies at the meeting and sought ways to expand the use of renewable energy sources.
"By being proactive, we're providing the platform for elected people to do the right thing," said committee member Ron Erpelding.
The committee also discussed the results of the Wednesday town hall meeting with Dr. Blair Henry and the next steps toward the goal ofmeeting all new energy needs with renewable energy sources, such as wind energy or biomass fuels, by 2015.
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Steve Renquist, EDC executive director, stressed that the committee needs to focus its energy and goals. "We need to move on from public pronouncements," he said, noting that the renewable energy goal is laudable, but specific goals are needed.
One of the renewable energy areas where specific goals are set is wind energy. The ag/energy committee will host a meeting from 4 to 6 p.m. Nov. 30 at the Willmar Public Library. Mark Willers, a community wind expert, will be the speaker at the event.
Those attending the meeting will be informed about the siting of a 20-megawatt wind energy project in the county. Interested community members, utility representatives, landowners and investors are invited to attend.
The committee also approved working with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture on a sixth annual animal agriculture conference, which likely be in March in Willmar.
