Biopolymers are one of the hottest buzzwords in plastics these days, and that means they're going to get attention from politicians. The latest to join the party: Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, who mentioned them as part of a $1.7 billion economic stimulus package in his "State of the State" message today. Here's the relevant part:
Now here's what we're going to do with those resources and how we're going to create jobs. We will invest 250 million dollars in the advanced and renewable energy economy, including solar, wind and clean coal. We will invest 150 million dollars in our state's infrastructure to help create a seamless network of roads, rails, and ports to support our logistics and distribution industry. We will invest 100 million dollars in bioproducts that use renewable sources instead of petroleum to create plastics and other products.I'm always skeptical when politicians start talking about where they're going to invest taxpayer dollars. Will they pick the right projects? How do they decide -- and do they have a better record of picking winners than the free market? If Strickland can convince the state legislature to go along with his plan, I guess we'll find out. Which plastics companies do you think will get in line for a share of that $100 million pot?