The Ohio House has unanimously approved a bill intended to boost biofuel use in the state.

Sponsored by Rep. Stephen Reinhard, R-Bucyrus, the measure would require all state agencies to use more alternative fuels.

It would require that 90 percent of new state vehicles be capable of using alternative fuels and that 90 percent of the entire fleet supply for state vehicles be alternative fuels by 2009.

The bill also would offer grants to fueling stations of up to 80 percent of the cost of switching a pump to an alternative fuel.

HB245 has been sent to the Senate for further consideration.

The effort’s advancement follows a recent announcement made by Gov. Bob Taft that one of every four gallons of fuel used to power Ohio’s fleet of diesel vehicles will be biodiesel.

Taft signed an executive order last month requiring the Ohio Department of Transportation to use at least 1 million gallons of biodiesel and 30,000 gallons or ethanol annually. The governor also mandated any future passenger vehicles purchased by the agency be able to run on fuel with high blends of ethanol.

All vehicles that can use diesel are already capable of using the biodiesel blend.

“Ohio is taking a major step forward in the state’s commitment to biofuels, reducing our dependence on foreign oil, decreasing emissions and increasing opportunities for the Ohio biodiesel and farm industry,” Taft said in a written statement.