BILL REQ. #:  H-3578.1 

Read first time 04/18/2007.   Referred to Committee on Technology, Energy & Communications.

     TO THE HONORABLE GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, THE SECRETARY OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE MIKE JOHANNS, THE SECRETARY OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SAMUEL W. BODMAN, GOVERNOR CHRISTINE O. GREGOIRE, THE WASHINGTON STATE COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC LANDS DOUG SUTHERLAND, THE DIRECTOR OF THE WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE VALORIA H. LOVELAND, AND TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY, TRADE, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT JULI WILKERSON:
     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
     WHEREAS, Having an affordable, reliable, and plentiful energy supply is critical to our economy, as well as our national and international food supply; and
     WHEREAS, Current and future risks to United States energy security are mounting while domestic and global energy demands are growing exponentially; and
     WHEREAS, Washington state and the West have tremendous renewable energy resources; and
     WHEREAS, The development of a broad spectrum of renewable energy sources, including wind power, biodiesel, biomass, methane digesters, ethanol, and solar, benefits the environment and will have a direct economic benefit to agricultural landowners and rural communities; and
     WHEREAS, Rural communities and agriculture sectors will experience multiple benefits, including establishing additional markets for agricultural commodities; increasing farm income; creating value-added uses for crops, livestock, and their byproducts; making more productive use of marginal lands; resolving air, water, and soil quality problems that may arise from agricultural operations; improving wildlife habitat; and creating many new job opportunities; and
     WHEREAS, Solar and wind energy can be captured on the vast land areas managed by United States agriculture, and technology and production capabilities allow America's farmers and ranchers to play a major role in ensuring a fully sustainable United States energy system; and
     WHEREAS, American agriculture and forestry are well-positioned to play an expanded role in the development and implementation of new energy solutions and with appropriate technological innovation, incentives, and investments, America's farms, forests, and ranches can become the factories that produce a new generation of fuels to help meet the nation's energy needs; and
     WHEREAS, "25 by '25" is an agriculturally led initiative that envisions America's farms, forests, and ranches producing twenty-five percent of the total energy consumed in America by the year 2025 while continuing to produce abundant, safe, and affordable food and fiber; and
     WHEREAS, Agriculture's role as an energy producer will have a positive effect on national security and trade imbalances, and will serve as a catalyst for rural development in Washington state;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, Your Memorialists support the vision of "25 by '25" whereby agriculture and forestry will provide twenty-five percent of the total energy consumed in the United States by the year 2025, while continuing to produce abundant, safe, and affordable food and fiber.
     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture Mike Johanns, the Secretary of the United States Department of Energy Samuel W. Bodman, Governor Christine O. Gregoire, the Washington State Commissioner of Public Lands Doug Sutherland, the Director of the Washington State Department of Agriculture Valoria H. Loveland, and to the Director of the Washington Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development Juli Wilkerson, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.