State’s Investment in Alternative Energy Showing Progress, Officials Say
by Rob Moritz (Arkansas News Bureau) While recently promoting the extension of a federal tax break for the wind industry, Gov. Mike Beebe called opponents “un-American.”
Later, he described his comment as “hyberbole,” but added, “I stand by the fact that energy independence for America is an American value that all of us ought to be interested in, and one component of energy independence is wind energy.”
…The Legislature in 2006 approved the Arkansas Alternative Fuels Development program to help jump-start the biofuel industry in the state with incentive grants.
…“Arkansas is positioned in almost every aspect, whether it’s in natural gas, whether it’s cellulosic material (for biofuels) or whether it’s in manufacturing for either solar or wind-powered industry, and don’t forget hydro,” he said.
…Richard Bell, director of the state Department of Agriculture, which oversees the incentive program for biofuels development, said “the state has become more of a player, which we weren’t before.”
He said his agency has distributed about $8.3 million through the state Alternative Fuels Development program for construction, modification or retrofitting of feedstock facilities and to alternative fuels producers and biodiesel distributors. READ MORE
