Corn growers sign declaration of independence from foreign energy

Keith Bolin, president of the American Corn Growers Association (ACGA) and a corn and hog farmer from Manlius, Ill., has announced his organization's signing of the "Declaration of Independence from Foreign Energy." "Farm raised energy is a key component to elimination of what President Bush calls our nation's addiction to imported energy," said Bolin. "America's farm families can provide much of the energy needed for this endeavor by producing biomass, ethanol, biodiesel, as well as wind and solar generated electricity."

ACGA has joined in signing the Declaration with the American Agriculture Movement (AAM). Larry Matlack, President of AAM, author and first signer of the Declaration said, "Energy security for America is far more important than financial security for our families because an energy crisis would affect millions of American families all at the same time limiting our ability to help each other."

"To have true energy security we must have an energy supply that is diverse, decentralized, domestic and renewable," added Matlack. "Today our dependence on parts of the world with unstable governments and populations that may not share our interests is a grave and growing threat to America. We have the ability to take care of our own energy needs if we have the will.

"We need an increased emphasis on all forms of energy production but with special attention to renewables because they offer sustainability along with diversity and decentralization," said Bolin. "The sun produces enough plant biomass each year to equal 100 times the energy use of the earth as we know it today. Every energy form used today in the U.S. has and in most cases is still receiving large tax breaks or credits to encourage production."

"Even though renewable plant biomass used for thermal heat production offers us the best opportunity to improve energy security it gets almost no incentives," explained Matlack. "The reason this is the case is simple; biomass fuels are locally grown and have an economic advantage when locally used but it does not lend itself to centralized coordination or control and so is of little interest to large corporations or governmental bodies."

Matlack encouraged all Americans to sign the Declaration. "Our website www.arbest.org serves as a focus point seeking energy independence for America by creating a tax-credit to put this renewable energy source on a level playing field with other energy sources and thus jump-start this industry. In the long term this will not only give us and our children and grandchildren energy security but also lower energy costs. It will only happen if the American people are informed and support this effort; IF NOT YOU, WHO? Support an American Biomass Energy Security Tax-credit!"

Bolin further explained that even though ACGA had signed the Declaration, he would like to see all ACGA members and all farmers sign the Declaration as individuals as well. See www.acga.org.

Date: 4/20/06

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