Profiling Team Romney: Florida Ag Commissioner Adam Putnam
by Tim Portz (Ethanol Producer Magazine) At 22 years of age, fifth-generation cattle rancher and citrus grower Adam Putnam was elected to the Florida House of Representatives and was later appointed chairman of that body’s agriculture committee. Putnam, national chairman of the Farmers and Ranchers for Romney coalition and co-chair of the Romney/Ryan agricultural advisory committee has served not only in the Florida legislature, but also served five terms in the U.S. House of Representatives as representative for Florida’s 12th district. When elected to the U.S. House in 2001, Putnam was 26 years old, the youngest member of Congress. In 2006, Putnam assumed the role of chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee, the fifth-ranking Republican leadership position in the House. Now, Putnam is serving the second year of a four-year term as Florida’s commissioner of agriculture.
…Industry professionals working in Florida expressed confidence in Putnam’s grasp of the issues surrounding agriculture- and forestry-based energy production.
…In 2007, Putnam was one of 95 Republicans in the House to vote for the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. This bill established the renewable fuel standard (RFS), which mandates the use of biofuels in the U.S. liquid fuel supply. House Republicans were evenly split on the bill, with Putnam being one of 95 Republicans to vote in favor of the legislation.
As Florida’s commissioner of agriculture, Putnam has publicly embraced the role renewables could play in Florida’s energy future noting that “with vast lands and abundant sunshine, Florida has a prime opportunity to be a leader in renewable energy.” Converting this passion and support for agriculture-based renewables into aggressive policy making, however, has not proved easy for the commissioner. READ MORE
