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House Agriculture Committee, Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research Opening Statement on next generation biofuels

Good Morning. Chairman Holden and Ranking Member Goodlatte.

    I would like to welcome our two distinguished panels of witnesses from the private sector and the USDA to discuss America’s future on next generation biofuels.  A simple premise in this day and age is that we cannot predict with any certainty what energy prices will be, what the supply and demand will be, or what our economy will look like in the future.  Energy is plays a central role in our economy and alternative energy such as biofuels will directly impact the availability of jobs, our incomes and the quality of our lives for many years to come.

    These sources of alternative energy are an important step towards energy independence.  If we do not use these resources and address these issues now, the rest of the world will pass us by.  The Fifth Congressional District in Ohio is ahead of the curve in alternative energy sources as it is home to solar panel manufacturing, wind turbines, ethanol, geothermal, and biodiesel.    There is also a process for coal gasification and development of a hydrogen engine is also occurring in the Fifth Congressional District.

    We are all aware that one source of energy is not one answer to our energy challenges.  Our country needs not only biofuels, but also wind, solar, hydro in addition to nuclear, clean coal technology and more domestic oil and natural gas production.  If we are going to achieve energy independence, we must use all available sources in a manner that is economically viable and environmentally sound.

    I hope that today’s hearing will help start moving our future use of biofuels and other sources of alternative energy in the right direction towards bringing jobs back, and bringing more alternative sources of energy to America and further developing the ones already in existence.  The panelists who have been invited to testify have varied backgrounds will speak about various aspects.

    Northern Ohio has a future in this country to be a leader in alternative energies such as biofuels.  I look forward to hearing from our witnesses and thank you for your insight and testimony.

    Thank you and I look forward to working with my colleagues on the House Committee on Agriculture on this very important issue.