Such a &8220;mandate&8221; &8212; which is always controversial to some people &8212; is likely the best way to help force the conversion to increased alternative fuel usage. The economics are simply not enough yet to allow the potential biodiesel and ethanol producers to make things fly. They need a little nudge. Currently, the federal government has offered tax incentives. Those incentives have managed to get lots of folks interested, but unless the tax breaks are expanded beyond their current expiration in 2008, they may not be enough to make a difference. With that uncertainty still floating out there, the only other factor that can sway someone into investing heavily into alternative fuel production would be if a broad, stable market is created. The mandates help to deliver that market. We suspect Louisiana&8217;s lead will help spark the alternative fuel economy and the state&8217;s agricultural base, too. Now, we hope Mississippi lawmakers will borrow a page from Louisiana&8217;s playbook. Both state&8217;s have much to gain in getting out of the gate quickly on producing alternative fuel sources.