07/07/05 25 x 25

Washington Ag July 7, 2005 Producing 25 percent of the energy needs of the United States from agriculture by the year 2525 is the vision of a project called the Ag Energy Working Group and St. John, Washington farmer Read Smith is a co-chairman of that effort. Yesterday, Smith and others involved in the project updated reporters on the work underway. Parts of what Smith called Phase two are creating an inclusive coalition of agricultural and rural organizations, doing an economic study on the impacts of 25 by 25 and identifying policies at all governmental levels that can accelerate the advancement of ag energy solutions. Smith: "As we move into Phase III which is going to be to implement the vision, we are going to need help from everybody to make this happen. But agriculture across our country, we have the technology, the capacity, the hunger and the leadership to bring all these new energy solutions to our nation. With your help and everyone's help then we can enhance farm income. We can revitalize rural America. We can improve our national security and our environment. So this is a win-win for everybody." One of the supporters of 25 by 25 who participated in the conference call with reporters was former CIA Director James Woolsey. I'm Bob Hoff.