Interview with Judy Ziewacz, head of Office of Energy Independence

Monday, June 11, 2007

From an article by Nathan Leaf in the Wisconsin State Journal:

Gov. Jim Doyle's promotion of biofuel in Wisconsin included creation of the Office of Energy Independence this spring, which will work closely with the renewable fuels industry.

To lead the office, he selected Judy Ziewacz, who had been deputy secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Drawing from years of experience in the agriculture sector, one of her priorities will be to help farmers understand they're not just growing crops for the dinner table but also for the fuel tank.

Q: What was your involvement in the creation of the Office of Energy Independence?

A: Secretary (Rod) Nilsestuen and I recommended that the governor (create) the Consortium on Biobased Industry, which would have been in May 2005. That group was intended to look at Wisconsin's competitive advantages in this emerging industry. We knew we were not going to compete with Iowa and Illinois in corn. That wasn't going to be our competitive advantage. But we also knew Iowa and Illinois didn't have the forestry stock that we did and diversity of landscape, including animal agriculture, that we have. So out of the consortium work they made the recommendation ... to create a position that will coordinate between agencies. And I was asked if I was interested.

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