With our nation's economy in turmoil and families everywhere worried about making ends meet with costs rising all around us, it is important we focus on ways to keep more money in the hands of working people and seniors to help improve our quality of life.
In politics, partisanship and egos must be set aside and great attention must be devoted to solving problems that will allow families and seniors to keep their hard earned money. One issue in particular that can help accomplish this goal is taking head on the rising costs of energy. While there are solutions that individuals, businesses and all levels of government need to work toward to help with our energy crisis, I'll point out what the state of Wisconsin has done and needs to continue to do on this issue.
Specifically, the State Legislature has worked in a bipartisan fashion with Gov. Jim Doyle to advance multiple measures designed to address rising energy costs by promoting renewable energy. Together we have acted to put Wisconsin on the fast track toward becoming a national leader in renewable energy technology and use.
For the first time in our state's history, we created the Renewable Energy Grant and Loan Program in the 2007-09 bipartisan state budget compromise. This program, which is receiving historic funding of $30 million, focuses on research and development into new technology, as well as promoting the production of renewable energy like solar, wind and biomass. Recently, $7.3 million in grants and loans were awarded with the expectation of leveraging over $44 million in investments and creating new jobs in our state. Coupled with an additional provision that created a sales tax exemption for energy created from solar, wind and agricultural waste, this program will make great strides toward energy independence and reduce dependence on foreign oil.
Also included in the state budget was the creation of the Office of Energy Independence. This new office is responsible for coordinating the state's efforts to grow Wisconsin's renewable economies with the ultimate goal of becoming a national leader in affordable alternative energy. Currently, the office has set a target of 25 percent of our power to come from renewable sources by the year 2025.
In addition, I recently had an opportunity to tour the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center and learn more about the Wisconsin Biofuels Initiative at the University of Wisconsin with business and civic leaders from Evansville. The University has become one of three major federal research centers tapped by the U.S. Department of Energy to solve what they call "our liquid transportation problem." In short, they are focusing on the next generation of science and technology that will turn biomass (corn stalks, switch grass, etc.) into biofuels. If successful, we can decrease the billions of dollars we send overseas on foreign sources of oil and instead increase the production of our own homegrown fuel and create thousands of jobs that our rural economy needs.
The state of Wisconsin needs to aggressively pursue renewable energy and energy efficiency policies by building on the success of our renewable energy grant and loan programs, and supporting the University of Wisconsin's Biofuels Initiative. These efforts will help battle high energy costs and eventually put more money into your pocketbook. If we continue to lead the way by promoting renewable energy, we can reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy and ultimately help improve the current economic crisis facing our families.
I want to hear from you, so please feel welcome to express your thoughts or let me know if I can be helpful to you in any way by calling (888) 534-0080, e-mailing me at Rep.Davis@legis.wi.gov or by writing or stopping by 308 North, State Capitol, Madison, WI 53708.
- Wisconsin State Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, serves the 80th Assembly District, which includes all of Green County and portions of Rock, Dane and Lafayette
counties.
In politics, partisanship and egos must be set aside and great attention must be devoted to solving problems that will allow families and seniors to keep their hard earned money. One issue in particular that can help accomplish this goal is taking head on the rising costs of energy. While there are solutions that individuals, businesses and all levels of government need to work toward to help with our energy crisis, I'll point out what the state of Wisconsin has done and needs to continue to do on this issue.
Specifically, the State Legislature has worked in a bipartisan fashion with Gov. Jim Doyle to advance multiple measures designed to address rising energy costs by promoting renewable energy. Together we have acted to put Wisconsin on the fast track toward becoming a national leader in renewable energy technology and use.
For the first time in our state's history, we created the Renewable Energy Grant and Loan Program in the 2007-09 bipartisan state budget compromise. This program, which is receiving historic funding of $30 million, focuses on research and development into new technology, as well as promoting the production of renewable energy like solar, wind and biomass. Recently, $7.3 million in grants and loans were awarded with the expectation of leveraging over $44 million in investments and creating new jobs in our state. Coupled with an additional provision that created a sales tax exemption for energy created from solar, wind and agricultural waste, this program will make great strides toward energy independence and reduce dependence on foreign oil.
Also included in the state budget was the creation of the Office of Energy Independence. This new office is responsible for coordinating the state's efforts to grow Wisconsin's renewable economies with the ultimate goal of becoming a national leader in affordable alternative energy. Currently, the office has set a target of 25 percent of our power to come from renewable sources by the year 2025.
In addition, I recently had an opportunity to tour the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center and learn more about the Wisconsin Biofuels Initiative at the University of Wisconsin with business and civic leaders from Evansville. The University has become one of three major federal research centers tapped by the U.S. Department of Energy to solve what they call "our liquid transportation problem." In short, they are focusing on the next generation of science and technology that will turn biomass (corn stalks, switch grass, etc.) into biofuels. If successful, we can decrease the billions of dollars we send overseas on foreign sources of oil and instead increase the production of our own homegrown fuel and create thousands of jobs that our rural economy needs.
The state of Wisconsin needs to aggressively pursue renewable energy and energy efficiency policies by building on the success of our renewable energy grant and loan programs, and supporting the University of Wisconsin's Biofuels Initiative. These efforts will help battle high energy costs and eventually put more money into your pocketbook. If we continue to lead the way by promoting renewable energy, we can reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy and ultimately help improve the current economic crisis facing our families.
I want to hear from you, so please feel welcome to express your thoughts or let me know if I can be helpful to you in any way by calling (888) 534-0080, e-mailing me at Rep.Davis@legis.wi.gov or by writing or stopping by 308 North, State Capitol, Madison, WI 53708.
- Wisconsin State Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, serves the 80th Assembly District, which includes all of Green County and portions of Rock, Dane and Lafayette
counties.
