Others recommendations include:

• Financial support for motorists to convert their vehicles to ‘flex fuel vehicles’.

• Government should extend the proposed ethanol excise starting date.

WA Agriculture Minister, Kimm chance, said today, “There's a great potential in WA for alternative fuels such as biodiesel and ethanol to provide significant benefits in both environmental and economic terms."

The independent report was compiled by the Biofuels Taskforce to identify key opportunities and issues for future development of the biofuels industry in WA.

The State Government will now consider the 24 recommendations put forward and look at options to help WA develop a sustainable biofuels industry.

The recommendations cover areas including research into new and improved feedstocks and technologies, fuel quality standards, testing facilities and an education campaign to inform and encourage consumer take-up of biofuel products.

Mr Chance today drove an ethanol-fuelled Saab BioPower, the first ethanol production car in Australia. (See separate story).

SOURCE: Breaking news from Farm Weekly, WA, updated daily on FarmOnline.