Sebelius calls for federal commitment to energy independence
Governor makes recommendations to leaders in Washington

With Kansas ramping up its alternative energy efforts, Governor Kathleen Sebelius today urged members of the Kansas congressional delegation to pursue a legislative agenda that will move America down the path toward energy independence.

The text of that letter is as follows:

Kansas Congressional Delegation:

On January 31, United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns released his agency’s 2007 farm bill proposals. These proposals include a number of initiatives and reauthorizations relating to energy policy, most of which are included in Title IX of the proposal document. 

In October, I advised the Kansas Energy Council to begin work on a strategic plan to make Kansas a leader in biofuels. Since then, the Council has reviewed various energy issues as they relate to Kansas and has also had a chance to review the Department of Agriculture’s farm bill proposals. 

Having conferred with the Council and conducted a thorough review of the state’s energy potential, I believe you can best serve Kansas by supporting and lobbying for the following Congressional actions:

• Increasing total funding provided for cellulosic ethanol. The current proposal calls for $1.6 billion in new funding for renewable energy research, development and production of cellulosic ethanol. I do not believe this is enough funding for Kansas and the country to begin realizing energy independence.
• Modifying the newly proposed Bioenergy and Bioproducts Research Initiative to include collaboration with public and private technological leaders, not just universities. Kansas is fortunate to have excellent public universities working on groundbreaking technologies. However, we also have organizations like the Kansas Bioscience Authority and the Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation that work well in a collaborative setting. I believe the state could benefit from a network of public and private entities, similar to our cooperative effort to recruit the proposed National Bio and Agri-Defense Facility.
• Opening Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) land to dryland farming and growth of switchgrass and perennial polycultures.  Currently, CREP land is taken out of irrigation and planted to grass. Opening CREP land to dryland farming or production of switchgrass or perennial polycultures would provide a new incentive for Kansas farmers to utilize land by producing biofuel feedstocks while maintaining environmentally sound practices. 
• Opening Conservation Reserve Preservation (CRP) land to production of switchgrass and perennial polycultures.  Currently, CRP land cannot be actively farmed. Opening CRP land to production of switchgrass or perennial polycultures would provide a new incentive for Kansas farmers to utilize land by producing biofuel feedstocks while maintaining environmentally sound practices.  This proposal recognizes the importance of management practices that take wildlife habitat into account.

I believe the changes listed above would enhance the biofuels components of the farm bill and allow Kansas to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the biofuels industry while promoting conservation of our state’s natural resources.

I greatly appreciate all you do in Washington on behalf of our state. Through your efforts and cooperation, I am confident we can position Kansas to combine its agricultural strength with innovative technology to become a leader in the emerging bioenergy industry.

Sincerely,
/s
Kathleen Sebelius
Governor of Kansas

# # #