Energy Future Coalition

In 2006, the Energy Future Coalition helped launch 25x'25 and since then it has grown into the premier renewable energy initiative in the United States. Founded in the agricultural community, the 25x'25 vision is for the U.S. to supply 25% of its energy needs with renewable energy by 2025 while continuing to produce safe, abundant, and affordable food, feed, and fiber.

The 25x'25 Alliance is made up of hundreds of partners ranging from large corporations to nonprofit groups to individuals eager for a new energy future. The 25x'25 vision has been endorsed by 31 governors, 14 state legislators, and was adopted in the 2007 energy bill. Through the 25x'25 Alliance, partners are working together to advance renewable energy solutions that are clean, domestically-based, and will stimulate new economic activity in the United States.

The U.S. has an abundant supply of renewable feedstocks and resources right here in our backyard, including wind, geothermal, biomass (agricultural and forestry products and residues, energy crops, and yard clippings), biogas, solar, and others. The American council on Renewable Energy estimates that new renewable energy could meet all of U.S. energy needs through 2025 and an economic study produced by the University of Tennessee for 25x'25 determined that benefits of meeting the 25% goal include:

• Generating $700 million in new economic activity.
• Reducing oil consumption by 2.5 million barrels per day—10% of U.S. predicted consumption in 2025.
• Creating 4 to 5 million good new jobs.
• Eliminating 1 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions and cleaning up the air by decreasing urban smog.

25x'25 has facilitated efforts to generate consensus policy recommendations, create sustainability principles, and is now leading an effort to identify opportunities for agriculture and forestry's participation in a low-carbon economy.  25x'25 and the University of Tennessee released this report to study the impacts of climate legislation on the agriculture sector: Analysis of the Implications of Climate Change and Energy Legislation to the Agricultural Sector.  The report finds that under a properly-constructed cap-and-trade program, net returns for agriculture are positive.

The 25x’25 National Steering Committee chartered a special Carbon Initiative Work Group in 2008 to analyze agriculture and forestry’s role in a reduced carbon economy.  The Work Group, which is composed of nationally recognized producers, economists, conservationists and academic and business leaders, has been carefully examining opportunities to participate in a reduced carbon economy and has concluded that agriculture and forestry can and will deliver substantial emission reductions and carbon sequestration services.

Please visit the 25x'25 website for more information, to sign up for updates, and to endorse the vision.