Senate Bill sb2826

    Florida Senate - 2006        (NP)                      SR 2826

    By Senator Smith





    14-2118-06

  1                        Senate Resolution

  2         A resolution in support of the "25 by '25"

  3         initiative and, in connection therewith, the

  4         increased production of renewable energy by the

  5         agricultural community.

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  7         WHEREAS, having an affordable, reliable, and plentiful

  8  energy supply is critical to our economy, and

  9         WHEREAS, Florida ranks third nationally in total energy

10  consumption, and

11         WHEREAS, Florida has tremendous renewable energy

12  resources, and

13         WHEREAS, development of a broad spectrum of renewable

14  energy sources, including biodiesel, biomass, methane

15  digesters, and ethanol, benefits the environment, and

16         WHEREAS, by participating in increased production of

17  renewable energy, rural communities and agriculture sectors

18  will experience multiple benefits, including establishing

19  additional markets for agricultural commodities; increasing

20  farm income; creating added-value uses for crops, livestock,

21  and their byproducts; making more productive use of marginal

22  lands; resolving air-quality, water-quality, and soil-quality

23  problems that can arise from agricultural operations;

24  improving wildlife habitat; and creating many new job

25  opportunities, and

26         WHEREAS, American agriculture is well positioned to

27  play an expanded role in the development and implementation of

28  new energy solutions, and with appropriate technological

29  innovation, incentives, and investments, America's farms and

30  ranches can become the factories that produce a new generation

31  of fuels to help meet the nation's energy needs, and

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 2006        (NP)                      SR 2826
    14-2118-06




 1         WHEREAS, "25 by '25" is an agriculturally led

 2  initiative that envisions America's farms and ranches meeting

 3  25 percent of America's energy needs by the year 2025 while

 4  continuing to produce abundant, safe, and affordable food and

 5  fiber, and

 6         WHEREAS, "Farm to Fuel" is an initiative to encourage

 7  the use of Florida crops and biomass for producing energy for

 8  the state's future energy stability, protection of its

 9  environment, and continued viability of its agriculture

10  industry, and

11         WHEREAS, agriculture's role as an energy producer will

12  have a positive effect on national security and trade

13  imbalances, NOW, THEREFORE,

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15  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:

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17         That the Senate supports the vision of "25 by '25"

18  whereby agriculture will provide 25 percent of the total

19  energy consumed in the United States by the year 2025, while

20  continuing to produce abundant, safe, and affordable food and

21  fiber.

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.