The transition away from petroleum derived transportation fuels and a shift towards utilization of renewable fuels, will provide positive economic and environmental advantages for Texas and the U.S. Reducing our nation's dependence on unstable foreign oil sources is also desirable. The U.S. imports 11 barrels of oil for every 10 barrels produced domestically. Utilizing petroleum as a raw material source, rather than a transportation fuel, makes sound environmental and economic sense.

Texas, in its post-petroleum boom days, could again be a net energy exporter by producing clean, renewable fuels. Utilizing grain crops, recycled vegetable oils, animal fats and other fat resources Texas could be producing millions of gallons of Ethanol and Bio-Diesel as well as other "green" products. In addition to cleaning up our own environment, the states economy will be stimulated by the construction and development of a Bio-Fuels/ industry. On June 20, 2003, Texas Governor Rick Perry signed Senate Bill 275 into law, which creates an ethanol production incentive starting in 2005. The bill expected to be funded and sets up an ethanol producer incentive of 20 cents per gallon on the first 18 million gallons of ethanol produced. The program also applies to Biodiesel produced in Texas. The bill imposes a fee of 3.2 cents per gallon on ethanol producers on the first 18 million gallons.

Texas farmers can benefit from additional planting and generate stabile revenue by growing energy crops. Crops such as mustard seed, canola rape seed or any high oil plant. After crushing seeds to obtain the oil, the remaining meal is high in protein/fat and minerals for animal feed. In Texas and other beef producing regions, animal tallow offers a source of low cost feed stock material. Mustard oil seed crop offers a high quality oil for Biodiesel production. Additionally, after crushing the mustard seed for oil, the post crush material makes an excellent organic pesticide (currently under approval by EPA).