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Grange Supports Alternative Energy Legislation
(Washington, D.C.) – National Grange, the nation’s oldest general farm and rural public affairs organization, strongly supports legislation currently being considered by Congress to fund alternative, renewable, and advanced energy incentives. HR 5890, sponsored by Representative Devin Nunes (R- CA), and S 3917, sponsored by Senator Richard Burr (R- NC), create a trust fund from lease and royalty revenue generated from oil production in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The program, entitled the American-Made Energy Freedom Act, will generate approximately $40 billion over the next thirty years and will fund a variety of energy initiatives including alternative, renewable, and advanced energy incentives. Specifically the legislation:
- Develops a production tax credit for cellulosic ethanol (CBE)
- Extends the $.50/gallon Coal to Liquid (CTL) excise tax credit
- Extends solar and fuel cell investment tax credits
- Provides grants to improve forest biomass for energy generation
- Encourages conversion of municipal solid waste into fuel ethanol and other byproducts
- Creates a renewable fuel loan and grant program
- Encourages innovative energy technologies
- Opens ANWR to exploration for energy resources
William Steel, president of National Grange stated, “This legislation, currently being considered by Congress, creates short term energy relief while providing long term domestic energy solutions.” Steel continued, “The American-Made Energy Freedom Act encourages ingenuity with the goal of increasing domestic fuel production, thus decreasing our dependence on foreign oil.”
Leroy Watson, Legislative Director of National Grange agreed, “Passage of this bill would be the largest investment in American energy in our Nation’s history.” He concluded, “The most amazing aspect of this legislation is that domestic energy production will be encouraged without cost to the taxpayer.”
The National Grange strongly urges Congress to consider the American-Made Energy Freedom Act in the lame duck session of Congress. “These last few days of the Congressional session are vital to increasing America’s energy production. We firmly believe that the passage of HR 5890 and S 3917 are crucial to solving our nation’s energy crisis,” concluded National Grange COO Richard Weiss.
The National Grange is the nation’s oldest general farm and rural public affairs organization. Founded in 1867, the National Grange represents individuals Grange members affiliated with more than 2,800 local, county and state Grange chapters in farming and rural communities across the United States.
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