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Jun 26, 2006 -- STATE DEPARTMENT RELEASE/ContentWorks
U.S. agriculture and energy officials announced June 23 that they will co-host a national renewable energy conference October 10-12 in Missouri to accelerate commercialization of renewable energy industries and distribution systems. That initiative aims to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil and increase production of domestically grown fuel to promote U.S. job growth and increase energy security. The conference will bring officials together to address U.S. energy problems, Johanns said, and is "strategically timed to bring together agricultural and rural investors, industry leaders, public-sector utilities, and state agencies with a stake in this very important issue." Interested parties from the renewable energy sectors of solar energy, biomass and wind energy also will have a rare opportunity to meet, he added. Bodman said the conference will focus on key renewable energy technologies, including solar power, wind power and cellulosic ethanol -- the manufacture of ethanol using cellulose (plant byproducts) as a raw material. "The conference is designed to tackle tough issues," Johanns said, "areas where the government can play an important role in helping overcome obstacles to the expansion of renewable energy. USDA and DOE expect the conference to review challenges and make recommendations to accelerate renewable energy technology development; examine key incentives that would promote certainty and reduce risk for investors and developers in the marketplace; review challenges of developing new distribution systems; and raise public awareness. In the United States, Johanns said, "demand for renewable fuels like biodiesel and ethanol is certainly rising. The current demand is 300,000 bushels per day, and we have more than 100 ethanol plants in operation and 30 more plants under construction." In 2006, some 19 billion liters of ethanol will be produced, and more than 26.5 billion liters will be produced by fall 2007. "We're very pleased with our success," Johanns said, "but realize there is tremendous opportunity to increase the economic viability of alternative fuels." Bodman announced that in July, DOE will issue a funding opportunity for establishing up to two new bioenergy research centers that could "revolutionize biology-based energy production" in the United States. "Systems biology research into microbes and plants may be able to overcome critical roadblocks to cost effective production of cellulosic ethanol and other renewable energy from biomass," Bodman said, "all carried out on a very large scale." Universities, national laboratories, nonprofit firms and private companies will be eligible to compete to set up one of these centers, which will be funded for an initial five-year period. The goal, Bodman said, will be "tapping nature's own powerful methods of producing energy and learning how biofuels can be produced more cost effectively than today." Bodman said the meeting could "identify major impediments and critical pathways to get more domestically grown, renewable energy sources out of the laboratory and into consumers' hands as soon as possible." USDA and DOE expect conference attendees to cover a broad spectrum of interests, including agriculture, energy, transportation, financial and investment, federal and state government and elected officials. To significantly reduce U.S. dependence on foreign energy sources, Johanns said, "we need to help unleash the entrepreneurial innovation of American farms and industry to build a new energy economy." Such a goal will require more focused research and development, he added, and new creative solutions approaches and policies through the public and private sectors. A USDA press release on the conference is available on the department's Web site. For more information on U.S. policies and programs, see Energy Policy. (The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State.) News Provided By |
