Building our Future with Bioenergy

Last week, I met with some of the brightest leaders in the Texas scientific community to lay the foundation for the Texas Bioenergy Research Committee. This committee of private, academic and state researchers will act in support of the Texas Bioenergy Policy Council, which I blogged about in December.

The committee will begin gathering research on the variety of Texas-grown feedstocks that go into the production of bioenergy. We will then examine engineering and logistical challenges to widespread adoption, cutting-edge research on the next generation of feedstocks and federal initiatives to promote the bioenergy industry.

You can learn more about the work of the policy council and research committee on the Texas Department of Agriculture's Web site www.TexasAgriculture.gov. Just look under “Most Popular Links.”

Making Texas a leader in the sustainable bioenergy industry

On Thursday, I chaired the first meeting of the Texas Bioenergy Policy Council. The council was created by the 81st Texas Legislature to make the state a leader in biofuel and biomass production. The group is charged with identifying a strategy to attract a sustainable bioenergy industry to Texas.

As we go forward, the council should ensure the policy we recommend is sustainable, equitable and defensible. The bioenergy industry in Texas must be able to stand on its own two feet; the government should not set mandates and choose winners and losers; and taxpayers must have confidence in and see benefits from renewable energy policy.

I was very impressed Thursday with the council members’ input and look forward to working with the group to find a blueprint for bioenergy success in Texas.