HB2611 – Study promoting circular bioeconomy throughout the state.
Prime Sponsor – Representative Duerr (D; 1st District; Bothell)
Current status – Had a hearing in the House Committee on Innovation, Technology & Economic Development January 29th. Passed out of committee with a minor amendment February 4th; referred to Appropriations.
Next step would be – Scheduling a hearing.
Legislative tracking page for the bill.
SB6435 is a companion bill in the Senate.

Comments –
Maybe the bill means that the report should identify potential ways to develop these things rather than actually doing it, since it seems unlikely that the University could do complete much research on new ways to produce high value chemicals of new methods for wastewater treatment in the two years of this study… (The bill doesn’t say anything about funding the study either.)

The committee amendment in the House added investigating the use of hardwood forest slash, mill wastes, and other residuals from sustainably managed forests to the study.

Summary –
The bill would direct the University of Washington to study ways to expand the use of renewable biological resources in the production of fuels, chemicals, and other materials in the State and report to the Legislature by July 2023. This would include:
(a) Developing new processes using biomass resources to produce high value chemicals and products, and high volume fuels in Washington, including processes to fractionate feedstocks, such as woody biomass;
(b) Developing biomass systems that provide effective water treatments, with an emphasis on cleaning municipal treatment wastewater and roadway stormwater;
(c) Identifying and assessing optimal locations throughout Washington state to site a biorefinery factory; and
(d) Identifying and analyze policy options that can promote the further development of a circular bioeconomy here.