Wisconsin Farmers Union Endorsement of HR-763
Excerpt from Farmers Union 2020 Policy Book below.
III. ENERGY
A. FEDERAL POLICIES
Wisconsin Farmers Union supports a balanced national energy policy that would effectively address energy conservation and research, maintaining an adequate supply of existing energy sources and the implementation of alternative energy sources. We promote the increased use of corn-based and most critically, cellulosic-based, ethanol or other viable alternative fuels such as biomass; biodiesel; methane and other agriculture-derived products. Clean, efficient energy should be affordable to all, with adequate supplies to meet the needs of Wisconsin and the U.S. Energy sources should be diverse and developed as close to points of use as possible rather than depending upon long distance and vulnerable transmission and transportation networks. We urge the establishment of a national petroleum reserve to ensure an emergency supply for agriculture and other essential industries. Wisconsin Farmers Union urges policymakers to consider the true costs of energy when making fuel decisions: the cost of importing energy, the national defense costs associated with trading with hostile countries, and the costs of greenhouse gas emissions on the environment. Wisconsin Farmers Union asks for farmers to be considered part of the solution, rather than the problem, in establishing a clean, independent energy policy. Wisconsin has the ability to sustainably produce biomass crops, oilseed crops and animal fats to be used for energy. We support the community-based development of localized, decentralized alternative energy and encourage tax credits and incentives for the proliferation of on-farm or community-based energy sources. Wisconsin Farmers Union is committed to partnering with rural electric coops to develop a positive vision for rural renewable energy into the future. Wisconsin Farmers Union affirms its support for the research and development of the various types of renewable energy in Wisconsin to provide a stronger market for Wisconsin farmers, a local supply of byproduct feedstuffs for dairy and livestock producers, and a safer additive for gasoline and diesel fuel that will also decrease our dependence on foreign oil. Wisconsin Farmers Union supports measures that increase conservation as well as the use of renewable fuels. Both measures are needed to ensure a clean and diversified energy economy. Wisconsin Farmers Union supports a revenue-neutral carbon fee and dividend such as the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2019 (HR-763). The goal of such a policy should be to meet or exceed the emissions reductions required to meet the targets adopted in Paris at the 21st meeting of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Wisconsin Farmers Union supports the national 25 x 25 program, which calls for renewable energy to comprise 25 percent of the U.S. energy supply by 2025. Wisconsin Farmers Union supports research and initiatives to explore ways for farmers to produce energy that does not contribute to global climate change.
A. FEDERAL POLICIES
Wisconsin Farmers Union supports a balanced national energy policy that would effectively address energy conservation and research, maintaining an adequate supply of existing energy sources and the implementation of alternative energy sources. We promote the increased use of corn-based and most critically, cellulosic-based, ethanol or other viable alternative fuels such as biomass; biodiesel; methane and other agriculture-derived products. Clean, efficient energy should be affordable to all, with adequate supplies to meet the needs of Wisconsin and the U.S. Energy sources should be diverse and developed as close to points of use as possible rather than depending upon long distance and vulnerable transmission and transportation networks. We urge the establishment of a national petroleum reserve to ensure an emergency supply for agriculture and other essential industries. Wisconsin Farmers Union urges policymakers to consider the true costs of energy when making fuel decisions: the cost of importing energy, the national defense costs associated with trading with hostile countries, and the costs of greenhouse gas emissions on the environment. Wisconsin Farmers Union asks for farmers to be considered part of the solution, rather than the problem, in establishing a clean, independent energy policy. Wisconsin has the ability to sustainably produce biomass crops, oilseed crops and animal fats to be used for energy. We support the community-based development of localized, decentralized alternative energy and encourage tax credits and incentives for the proliferation of on-farm or community-based energy sources. Wisconsin Farmers Union is committed to partnering with rural electric coops to develop a positive vision for rural renewable energy into the future. Wisconsin Farmers Union affirms its support for the research and development of the various types of renewable energy in Wisconsin to provide a stronger market for Wisconsin farmers, a local supply of byproduct feedstuffs for dairy and livestock producers, and a safer additive for gasoline and diesel fuel that will also decrease our dependence on foreign oil. Wisconsin Farmers Union supports measures that increase conservation as well as the use of renewable fuels. Both measures are needed to ensure a clean and diversified energy economy. Wisconsin Farmers Union supports a revenue-neutral carbon fee and dividend such as the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2019 (HR-763). The goal of such a policy should be to meet or exceed the emissions reductions required to meet the targets adopted in Paris at the 21st meeting of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Wisconsin Farmers Union supports the national 25 x 25 program, which calls for renewable energy to comprise 25 percent of the U.S. energy supply by 2025. Wisconsin Farmers Union supports research and initiatives to explore ways for farmers to produce energy that does not contribute to global climate change.