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WA House OKs Testing Of Forest Biomass As Fuel

State House of Representatives has approved a Washington Department of Natural Resources' request to test whether forest biomass could be a viable source of aviation fuel.

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- The state House of Representatives has approved a Washington Department of Natural Resources' request to test whether forest biomass could be a viable source of aviation fuel.

House lawmakers on Tuesday approved a bill calling for a demonstration project on using forest biomass -- plant or tree material produced by forest growth -- as a renewable energy source.

Lawmakers say four biomass projects are already under way.

Prime sponsor Rep. Derek Stanford of Bothell says this bill will help Washington lead the way in aviation biofuel production and will help advance a critical area of technology: renewable energy. The democrat lawmaker also says that ushering a biomass project will also draw investment in the new technology that could create more jobs.

The proposal now moves to the Senate.