Robert Johnson

Farm Bureau opposes HB 219 and the phasing out of the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) law. A cornerstone of our state energy policy, the RPS is key to supporting local energy production and independence. The biomass production the law sustains provides forest landowners a market for their low-grade wood – an estimated two-thirds of all timber growing in the state. Removal of this low-grade wood is necessary for sustainable forest management. It is no small item to the state’s farmers that the wood ash produced from biomass energy production is a crucial locally sourced fertilizer and soil amendment that cannot be economically replaced by our farmers. We urge the Committee find HB 219 Inexpedient-to-Legislate and as always thank you for your consideration.