May 18
Three Democrats from Midwest and Upper Midwest states have proposed legislation that would encourage farmers to grow cellulosic energy crops that would be used exclusively for producing fuel.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., is introducing the Farm-To-Fuel Investment Act with the support of Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, the chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., chairman of the Senate Budget Committee.
The bill would give financial incentives to farmers for transitioning to growing energy crops such as switchgrass within 50 miles of a biorefinery that would produce cellulosic ethanol.
Incentives are needed for the first few years because it takes about three years for crops like switchgrass to reach their first mature harvest, according to the billīs supporters.
The Renewable Fuels Association has backed the bill, saying efforts to reduce dependence on foreign oil and improve the environment through the increased use of ethanol will require producing the fuel from crops other than corn alone.
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