Renewable Energy Conference

Last week I addressed the Bioenergy Conference held at University of Georgia facility in Tifton. More than 700 people registered to attend the event. The three day conference included presentations on biomass electric power generation and the development of liquid fuels such as ethonal and butonal from Georgia grown agricultural products. Renewable energy promotes energy independence and rural economic development. Additionally, development of renewable energy will decrease greenhouse gases and increase fuel diversity which serves as an economic hedge against weather events such as hurricanes. We have a great opportunity in this state. Georgia's farmers are some of the most productive in the world. We are the largest poultry producing state. Additionally, our state is blessed with great timber resources which are ideal for biomass electric generation. We have worked hard to attract some of the country's premier research programs to the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech. Unfortunately, Georgia is falling behind with regard to renewable energy development because our state government has not been bold. Our electric utilities have done little to promote alternative energy. The state needs to do more to promote liquid fuel use and development. Incredibly, there are leas than a dozen pumps in Georgia where people can purchase E85 ethonal. I am working on legislation for consideration in the 2008 Session to promote renewable energy in Georgia. We have a long way to go.