Complete Story
09/29/2006
OSA Endorses 25x'25...America's Energy Future
Contact:
Jamie Mossbarger
Communications Director
614.476.3100
jmossbarger@soyohio.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 29, 2006
OSA Endorses 25 x '25 . . . America's Energy Future
Columbus, OH Hardly a day goes by where U.S. energy talks are not in the news. We hear it on morning and nightly newscasts, read about it in newspapers and always wonder how the U.S. is going to reduce its dependence on foreign oil.
The Ohio Soybean Association (OSA) has taken a step in trying to find answers to the many questions about energy security by showing its support for the national 25x'25 initiative. The vision of 25x'25 is that by 2025, America's farms, forests and ranches will provide 25% of the total energy consumed in the United States, while continuing to produce safe, abundant and affordable food, feed and fiber.
OSA recently joined other state and national organizations with its endorsement of this campaign. 25x'25 is supported by the Energy Future Coalition and is led by a committee composed of volunteer leaders from the agriculture, forestry, and renewable energy communities. William Richards, a corn and soybean farmer from Circleville, Ohio serves as co-chairman. Richards also serves as Senator Mike DeWine's agriculture liaison and formerly served as Chief for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil and Conservation Service.
"My entire career I have been producing into a surplus demand and now with the energy demand we have a market we can't even fill," says Richards. "I am very excited and know that we have an opportunity to do things and to have an impact like we have never had before."
National internet surveys conducted by Public Opinion Strategies indicated that there is nearly unanimous support for a national goal of having 25% of U.S. domestic energy demands met by renewable resources by the year 2025. Three out of four respondents said that this initiative is "very important" and ninety percent of voters believe this goal is achievable.
"Everyone has a part in this," says Jeff Sollars, OSA President and Fayette County soybean farmer. "There is no silver bullet it is everyone working together to achieve independence."
The Ohio Soybean Association is governed by a 23-member volunteer farmer board dedicated to education and promotion, as well as to uniting producer interest through support of legislative activities beneficial to the Ohio soybean industry.
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