Governor’s Biomass Task Force Makes Recommendations

An executive task force formed by Gov. Steve Beshear has forwarded to the governor its recommendations for advancing the discussion on the development of a biomass and biofuels industry in Kentucky. A report from the 22-member group lists five key recommendations that can create a viable alternative energy industry for the Commonwealth.

“The development of a biomass and biofuels industry is certainly promising, and I will take the recommendations under advisement,” said Gov. Beshear. “The task force estimates that biomass production and processing can generate up to $3.4 billion of net output annually along with 10,000 jobs, much of which will be concentrated within rural communities statewide. That is a plus for everyone in Kentucky.”

The five recommendations are:

1) The Division of Biofuels within the Energy and Environment Cabinet serve as a single agency point to coordinate and facilitate biomass and biofuels development statewide. The Division of Biofuels must be fully integrated with the Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy, Department of Agriculture, the Cabinet for Economic Development, and Division of Forestry, whether by formal or informal structure, to facilitate the merger of the biomass provisions of Kentucky’s strategic plan for energy and its strategic plan for agriculture into a Roadmap for Biomass Development to 2025.

2) A Kentucky-specific Renewable and Efficiency Portfolio Standard be mandated which will provide significant opportunities for biomass and job development in Kentucky.

3) The Division of Biofuels publish analyses and summary findings identifying current biomass development and technology within the Commonwealth, along with demand projected from developing technologies and mandates.

4) The Division of Biofuels, in collaboration with stakeholder groups, facilitate development of a Kentucky Standard for Biomass Sustainability.

5) The Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy and the Energy and Environment Cabinet assess public opinion of funding mechanisms that foster the development of biomass production and that stimulate the development of a biomass-based liquid fuel and power industry.

“While the Task Force recognizes that some of the recommendations depend upon the economic health of Kentucky, we firmly believe that we must move forward in finding and developing viable alternative energy resources,” said task force co-chair Len Peters, secretary of the Energy and Environment Cabinet. “This work product will be a guideline and roadmap to making that happen.”

Much of what appears in the report relies on collaborate efforts among several state agencies as well as the private sector, according to co-chair Roger Thomas, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Agriculture Policy.

“We quickly discovered in our meetings and discussions that no one group can make this happen without including the expertise and work of others. I believe putting continued efforts towards developing a biomass and biofuels industry for Kentucky will pay great dividends in the very near future,” said Thomas.

The report will be forwarded to leadership in the Kentucky General Assembly for review and comment. A copy of the full report will be available online at www.energy.ky.gov/biomass