House adopts 25x'25 energy goal

The House of Representatives brought the nation closer to a renewable energy future, adopting a resolution recently that calls for 25 percent of the nation's energy needs to be met by renewable resources by the year 2025.

Under the leadership of House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) and ranking member Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), both lead sponsors of the resolution, the full House now joins the Senate in setting an energy policy that calls on America's farms, ranches and forestlands to provide a fourth of the energy consumed by 2025 to come from land-based resources -- biomass, wind energy, biofuels, solar power, geothermal energy and hydropower -- while continuing to provide a safe, affordable and abundant supply of food, feed and fiber.

The resolution, which was unanimously adopted by the Senate in June, springs from an expanding coalition that now includes 600 agricultural, forestry, environmental, energy, business, labor, civic and government organizations -- partners that include American Farm Bureau Federation, the Forest Resources Association, Natural Resources Defense Council and the "Big 3" U.S. automobile manufacturers -- as well as 27 governors and 12 state legislatures.

"The 25x'25 resolution is a statement of our national commitment to support the development of renewable energy sources," Peterson said. "I believe that we can not only meet but exceed the goal of 25 percent by 2025, but every journey starts with a first step, and this resolution is a very important first step that we can take to achieving energy independence."

Goodlatte commended the House for recognizing the important role American agriculture plays in domestic energy production. "I look forward to working with my colleagues and the industry as we work to turn the goal of 25x'25 into a reality."

"This resolution has enjoyed bipartisan Congressional support representing rural and urban constituencies," said steering committee co-chairman Bill Richards. Noting the resolution had a third of the Senate as co-sponsors and more than 70 House members, Richards said the resolution "defines a new energy future for our nation. It's a firm goal on the way to a secure energy future."

Steering committee co-chair Read Smith said he is grateful to the House leadership, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) for moving the resolution. "Our elected officials in Washington understand its importance to the nation's energy future."

But Smith noted that the adoption of the concurrent resolution is the first step in achieving the 25x'25 vision for America.

In February, the steering committee handed off to congressional leaders the "25x'25 Action Plan: Charting America's Energy Future." The plan lists 35 recommendations that when implemented would cost just 5 percent of what America spent on imported oil in 2006, but would result in dramatic increases of up to 5 million new jobs and $700 billion in new economic activity annually while significantly reducing oil consumption and global warming emissions.

"We look forward to working with Congress to advance the enabling policies that will bring the 25x'25 vision to life," said Smith.

Now that Congress has adopted the 25x'25 as a national goal, the 25x'25 Campaign is entering a fourth phase of work in support of a new energy future for America. Efforts are focuses on facilitating national partner dialogue and planning around important renewable energy transition issues including measures to protect and enhance the environment; use of woody biomass in a 25x'25 energy future; biofuel and electricity infrastructure challenges; and agriculture and forestry's role in a reduced carbon economy.

For more information, visit www.25x25.org.