Senate Study Bill 3281 


PAG LIN



  1  1          SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO.    
  1  2         BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE
  1  3            RESOLUTION BY CHAIRPERSON FRAISE)
  1  4 A Concurrent Resolution endorsing the national
  1  5    initiative for the increased production of renewable
  1  6    energy through agricultural production.
  1  7    WHEREAS, an affordable, reliable, and plentiful
  1  8 energy supply together with an affordable, reliable,
  1  9 and plentiful food supply are critical to this state's
  1 10 and nation's economic security; and
  1 11    WHEREAS, there are serious risks to this nation's
  1 12 energy security as domestic and global energy demands
  1 13 are increasing; and
  1 14    WHEREAS, Iowa and the United States possess
  1 15 abundant renewable energy resources and are ready to
  1 16 develop a technology and infrastructure necessary to
  1 17 deliver affordable sources of energy to its citizens;
  1 18 and
  1 19    WHEREAS, among the number of promising renewable
  1 20 energy resources to be fully developed include
  1 21 home=grown biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel, as
  1 22 well as methane, and wind and solar power; and
  1 23    WHEREAS, the replacement of fossil fuels with clean
  1 24 sustainable sources of energy is compatible with the
  1 25 stewardship of natural resources, and promises to
  1 26 enhance air and water quality, encourage the
  1 27 sustainable use of land, and improve wildlife habitat;
  1 28 and
  1 29    WHEREAS, the development of renewable energy
  1 30 sources will promote additional and expanded markets
  2  1 for agricultural commodities; increase the income of
  2  2 agricultural producers and revitalize rural
  2  3 communities; create value=added products and
  2  4 coproducts; encourage integrated systems for crop,
  2  5 livestock, and fuel production; utilize marginal lands
  2  6 for low=impact uses; create new jobs; provide
  2  7 consumers with abundant and affordable energy; and
  2  8 reduce the nation's trade imbalance; and
  2  9    WHEREAS, with a commitment to technological
  2 10 innovation and developing infrastructure, with public
  2 11 sector support and private sector investment,
  2 12 America's farms, ranches, and timberland will
  2 13 contribute materials necessary to produce a new
  2 14 generation of fuels to help meet the nation's energy
  2 15 needs; and
  2 16    WHEREAS, the 25 x '25 Renewable Energy Alliance is
  2 17 an initiative that started with a small group of farm
  2 18 leaders that has now grown to an alliance of more than
  2 19 630 agriculture, forestry, environmental, energy,
  2 20 business, labor, and government partners across the
  2 21 country; and
  2 22    WHEREAS, the objective of the "25 x '25" initiative
  2 23 is to grow this nation's energy solutions from the
  2 24 ground up, by envisioning that America's farms,
  2 25 ranches, and forests help to produce 25 percent of
  2 26 this nation's energy demand by the year 2025 while
  2 27 continuing to produce abundant, safe, and affordable
  2 28 food and fiber to the world; NOW THEREFORE,
  2 29    BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, THE HOUSE OF
  2 30 REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING, That the General Assembly
  3  1 endorses the vision of the "25 x '25" initiative, and
  3  2 related nonpartisan efforts by the 25 x '25 Renewable
  3  3 Energy Alliance to address the economic, security, and
  3  4 environmental challenges related to the production and
  3  5 use of fossil fuels and to provide a compelling new
  3  6 vision of the economic opportunities that will be
  3  7 created by the transition to a new energy economy; and
  3  8    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this
  3  9 resolution be delivered to the Honorable Chet Culver,
  3 10 Governor of the State of Iowa; and
  3 11    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this
  3 12 resolution be delivered to Iowa's congressional
  3 13 delegation; and
  3 14    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this
  3 15 resolution be delivered to Mr. J. Read Smith and Mr.
  3 16 William Richards, co=chairs of the 25 x '25 Steering
  3 17 Committee at the Maryland office of the 25 x '25
  3 18 Renewable Energy Alliance; and
  3 19    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this
  3 20 resolution be delivered to the Denver office of the
  3 21 National Conference of State Legislatures.
  3 22 LSB 5660SC 82
  3 23 da/rj/5