HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 6
INTRODUCED BY PHILLIPS, LIND, NOONEY, AUGARE, CORDIER, EBINGER, ERICKSON, HANDS, HOLLENBAUGH, O'HARA, POMNICHOWSKI, VAN DYK, WILMER, WISEMAN
A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA SUPPORTING THE "25 X 25" INITIATIVE TO INCREASE PRODUCTION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY BY THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY.
WHEREAS, having an affordable, clean, reliable, and plentiful energy supply is critical to Montana's economy, as well as the national and international food supply; and
WHEREAS, current and future risks to national energy security are mounting while domestic and global energy demands are growing exponentially; and
WHEREAS, Montana and the United States have tremendous renewable energy resources; and
WHEREAS, the development of a broad spectrum of renewable energy resources, including wind power, biofuels, biomass, methane digesters, ethanol, and solar, benefit the environment and will have a direct economic benefit to agricultural landowners and rural communities; and
WHEREAS, rural communities and agriculture will experience multiple benefits, including establishing additional markets for agricultural commodities, increasing farm income, creating added-value uses for crops, livestock, and their byproducts, encouraging 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, American agriculture is 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 and ranches can become the factories that produce a new generation of fuels to help meet the nation's energy needs; and
WHEREAS, "25 x 25" is an agriculturally led initiative that envisions America's farms and ranches producing 25% of America's energy supply 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 Montana and the United States; and
WHEREAS, Governor Brian Schweitzer (D-MT), Governor Dave Heineman (R-NE), Governor Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), Governor Mitch Daniels (R-IN), Governor Ed Rendell (D-PA), former Governor Jeb Bush (R-FL), Governor Kathleen Sebelius (D-KS), former Governor Tom Vilsack (D-IA), former Governor George Pataki (R-NY), former Governor Robert Ehrlich (R-MD), Governor Jennifer Granholm (D-MI), former Governor James Risch (R-ID), Governor Jim Doyle (D-WI), Governor Jim Douglas (R-VT), Governor Ernie Fletcher (R-KY), Governor John Lynch (D-NH), former Governor Bob Taft (R-OH), Governor Tim Kaine (D-VA), Governor Arnold Schwartzenegger (R-CA), and Governor Rod Blagojevich (D-IL) have endorsed "25 x 25"; and
WHEREAS, state legislatures from Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, and Vermont have endorsed "25 x 25".
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
That the Montana Legislature endorses the "25 x 25" vision of agriculture providing 25% 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 FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be sent by the Secretary of State to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate and House of Representatives, and each member of the Montana Congressional Delegation.
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