25x25 Chairman Slams Cuts To Renewable Energy Program
Bart Ruth, chairman of the 25x’25 policy committee and former president of the American Soybean Association said the cuts to the renewable energy programs, included in a larger farm and food spending bill adopted by the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, were “draconian cuts”, reports Ag Professional.
The cuts came when the subcommittee voted to ignore the consequences of not supporting “development of new and burgeoning technologies that will ultimately pay their own way,” Ruth said. “The 25x’25 Alliance recognizes that all sectors must make sacrifices to achieve true reductions in spending and the national deficit. Failing to maintain federal support for these programs will sacrifice the development of industries that will generate revenues, jobs and tax dollars that can help sustain a balanced federal budget.”
The Senate Appropriations Committee is currently soliciting spending marks from members in that chamber and is expected to take up a fiscal 2012 spending bill starting next month.
“As debate continues on the 2012 spending plan, lawmakers must understand that these programs targeted by House appropriators create jobs, grow the economy and reduce our military defense of oil supply lines. These cuts would eliminate initiatives that will produce next generation, home-grown, domestically produced transportation biofuels. Spending cuts must be fair, proportional and in alignment with national priorities,” Ruth said. “Unfortunately the House spending blueprint abandons support for clean energy solutions from our nation’s farms, ranches and forests and steers a course back to the failed energy policies of the past.”
The 25x’25 Alliance works to advance renewable energy solutions from the nation’s farms, ranches and working lands to have 25% of the country’s energy from renewable resources like wind, solar, and biofuels by the year 2025.
For more information go to 25×25.org. ◆