In This Issue:
Court stops sales, planting of genetically engineered alfalfa
Healthy markets lead to healthy communities
House, Senate block liquid coal subsidies
Latest mad cow problems show need for labeling
Legislation would protect landowners
Legislatures move oil and gas reform bills
Legislature, livestock and trade
Holding animal factories accountable
House renewable energy bill introduced
WORC develops biofuel recommendations
WORC develops biofuel recommendations
Congress is moving rapidly to spur a new industry across rural America – clean, renewable fuels from biomass feedstocks, including annual and perennial crops and waste products. The “perfect storm” of rising oil and gas prices, national security concerns about U.S. dependence on imported oil from politically volatile and war-torn regions, and concerns regarding climate change caused by greenhouse gases largely generated from heavy use of fossil fuels makes the need for Congressional action urgent.For rural Westerners, many of whom have experienced a long, steady decline in income, the national interest in biofuels could not come at a better time. Congress now has a rare, historic opportunity to implement policies that could dramatically transform rural America.
WORC with its deep roots in the rural West and longstanding commitment to sustainable, community-friendly energy and agricultural policies is uniquely positioned to set forth a pro-active, visionary, yet achievable and sustainable agenda for federal biofuels initiatives.
WORC’s biofuels policy recommendations are grounded in principles related to stewardship, open and fair markets, and sound community well-being. WORC eschews biofuels plans that fail to incorporate rural economic development and sound stewardship principles including wildlife conservation, and water, soil, and air quality. For more detailed information on the recommendations, see WORC’s fact sheet on www.worc.org.
WORC Federal Policy Recommendations
- Caps on excise tax credits or other incentives to any one producer.
- Clear definitions of what constitutes renewable biofuels and biomass.
- Set an 8 billion gallon biodiesel renewable fuel standard by 2025.
- Establish a farmer owned reserve of biomass and biofuel feedstocks to ensure stability, energy security, consumer protection, and industry viability.
- Develop programs to encourage and assist farmers as they tool up to shift their production to meet the nation’s new energy needs.
- Steer research dollars to a variety of process technologies and regionally appropriate feedstocks.
- Appropriate funds to provide technical and business assistance to rural communities.
- Raise and extend the Renewable Fuel Standard for cellulosic ethanol.
- Close the loop-hole in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 which allows corn ethanol to be substituted for cellulosic ethanol if it utilizes alternative fuels for process energy
- Recognize renewable and sustainably produced biomass as a thermal fuel that can be readily substituted for natural gas, fuel oil, or coal.
- Congress should adopt sustainability criteria
that ensure conservation and stewardship of soil, water, and air and
other natural resource values, including wildlife.