Thursday, September 21, 2006

House Agriculture Committee Passes Resolution Embracing New Energy Vision

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The House Committee on Agriculture today approved H. Con. Res. 424, which embraces a new national vision of meeting 25% of the nation’s energy needs from renewable sources by 2025.

The 25x’25 resolution has the support of a broad coalition including agriculture, industry, and environmental leaders, as well as governors, four state legislatures, over 80 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives, and 27 co-sponsors in the Senate.

“25x’25 is a bold energy vision for this nation,” said Read Smith, Co-Chair of the 25x’25 Steering Committee. “It has the support of Republicans, Democrats, industry, and environmental leaders – and the agriculture and forestry communities are at its heart. All of the 25x’25 partners have shown great leadership in helping to forge a new energy future.”

Lead sponsors include: Reps. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), Collin Peterson (D-Minn), Marilyn Musgrave (R-Colo.), Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) and Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.); and Sens. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), Ken Salazar (D-Colo.), Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) and Tom Harkin (D-Iowa).

Over the last two years, support has been building for the 25x’25 initiative, which would tap renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and biofuels. More than 275 organizations have endorsed the vision, along with 18 governors, including: Governors Jeb Bush (R-Fla.),
Mitch Daniels (R-Ind.), Jim Douglas (R-Vt.), Jim Doyle (D-Wis.), Robert Ehrlich (R-Md.), Ernie Fletcher, (R-Ky.), Jennifer Granholm (D-Mich.), Dave Heineman (R-Neb.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), John Lynch, (D-N.H.), George Pataki (R-N.Y.), Tim Pawlenty (R-Minn.), Ed Rendell (D-Pa.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Brian Schweitzer (D-Mont.), Kathleen Sebelius (D-Kan.), Bob Taft (R-Ohio), and Tom Vilsack (D-Iowa).

“Today’s vote is a powerful endorsement of renewable energy, and we commend the leaders on the House Agriculture Committee who supported this vision,” said Reid Detchon, Executive Director of the Energy Future Coalition, which works with 25x’25. “Setting the goal of 25x’25 is the critical first step in moving us toward an America that is more secure, more environmentally stable, and energy self-sufficient.”

Several members of the Agriculture Committee expressed support for the passage of H. Con. Res. 424:

* Rep. Bob Goodlatte, Chair of the Agriculture Committee, said, "I am pleased that the Committee today passed the 25x'25 initiative. Increased development of renewable fuels opens new markets for our nation's producers, provides consumers with a safe, sustainable, environmentally friendly, and renewable source of energy, and decreases our nation's dependency on foreign oil thereby likely lessening the negative effects of severe spikes in oil prices on consumers. The Committee will continue to work to ensure that a number of opportunities are explored to ensure that we can turn the 25x'25 goal into a reality."

* Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), Ranking Member of the Agriculture Committee, said, "Today the Agriculture Committee recognized the importance of expanding the production and use of renewable energy sources by passing the 25 by 25 resolution. This is an important priority, not just for agriculture, but for the entire country as we pursue energy independence."

* Rep. Stephanie Herseth (D-S.D.), member of the Agriculture Committee and Co-chair of the House Rural Working Group, said, "Renewable fuels like ethanol and biodiesel are the key to reducing our dependence on foreign oil, strengthening our national security and revitalizing rural American economies. With the 25x‘25 initiative we are setting an ambitious, achievable and necessary goal that will be critical to our national energy needs in the future. I'm particularly supportive of investment in research to continue to develop groundbreaking technologies that increase the efficiency of the process."

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