Senate Bill sb1860

    Florida Senate - 2007        (NP)                      SR 1860

    By Senator Bennett





    21-1502-07

  1                        Senate Resolution

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

  3         initiative and the increased production of

  4         renewable energy by the agricultural community.

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  6         WHEREAS, the role of agriculture as an energy producer

  7  has the potential to positively influence national security

  8  and trade imbalances, and

  9         WHEREAS, an affordable, reliable, and plentiful energy

10  supply is critical to the economy of Florida, which ranks

11  third nationally in total energy consumption and possesses

12  vast resources of renewable energy, and

13         WHEREAS, the development of a broad spectrum of

14  renewable energy sources, including biodiesel, biomass,

15  methane digesters, and ethanol, is not only immensely

16  beneficial to the environment but also provides multiple

17  benefits to rural communities and agricultural sectors by

18  spawning additional markets for agricultural commodities;

19  increasing farm income; creating added-value uses for crops,

20  livestock, and their byproducts; using marginal lands more

21  productively; resolving air, water, and soil quality problems

22  that often arise from agricultural operations; improving

23  wildlife habitat; and creating new job opportunities, and

24         WHEREAS, American agriculture is strategically

25  positioned to play an expanded role in developing and

26  implementing new energy solutions; and, with appropriate

27  technological innovation, incentives, and investments, this

28  country's farms and ranches could well become the factories

29  that produce a new generation of fuels to help meet the

30  nation's energy needs, and

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    Florida Senate - 2007        (NP)                      SR 1860
    21-1502-07




 1         WHEREAS, "25 by '25" is an initiative that envisions

 2  American farms and ranches meeting 25 percent of America's

 3  energy demand by the year 2025, while continuing to produce

 4  abundant, safe, and affordable food and fiber, and

 5         WHEREAS, "Farm to Fuel" is an initiative designed to

 6  encourage the use of Florida crops and biomass for production

 7  of energy for the state's future energy stability, protection

 8  of its environment, and continued viability of its agriculture

 9  industry, NOW, THEREFORE,

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

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13         That the Senate supports the vision of "25 by '25," and

14  encourages the production of renewable energy and fuels by

15  farms and ranches to help meet future energy needs.

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