Montana Means Energy, November 2010

I am passionate about ensuring our energy future by developing clean energy, and producing bio-energy is an important component of my energy policy. Increasing bio-energy production can create new markets for agricultural products, reduce our dependence on imported oil, attract new investment and, most importantly, create jobs for Montanans.

Biofuels are one of our primary renewable energy resources. In fact, they have been one of the largest U.S. renewable energy sources for the past decade, constituting 5.4% of total energy production in 2009. Biofuels provide the only renewable alternative for liquid transportation fuels. In addition, they help us reduce air and water pollution and greenhouse gases and avoid altogether the use of highly toxic fuel additives.

Today’s biofuel uses include ethanol, biodiesel, biomass power and industrial process energy. Here in Montana we have a total land area of 145,000 square miles, 16.5 million acres of which is crop land suitable for growing grain and oilseed crops for use in biofuel production. MSU-Northern’s Bio-energy Innovation and Testing Center has provided ground breaking research in the development of biofuels from oilseed crops. Montana is also home to 19 million acres of non-reserved forest land in Montana available for production of cellulosic ethanol and other biofuels.

The development of woody biomass power plants in Montana to utilize wood waste and material from forest fuels reduction is another growing opportunity. Woody biomass is a renewable source of fuel for both direct heating and electricity generation. In western Montana where coal and wind are not abundant, harvesting timber waste for energy provides great opportunities for energy development, while utilizing dead and dying ‘red’ trees. Biomass utilization can help revive Montana’s timber industry and the communities that rely on it for good jobs.

Bio-energy is an important part of Montana’s diverse energy portfolio, and it continues to be a priority for my administration. Developing all types of bio-energy across our state will create jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil, a win-win for Montana.

Governor Brian Schweitzer

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Archive of previous newsletters: http://community.icontact.com/p/montanameansenergy/newsletters/july2010/posts/montana-means-energy-november-2010