25 by 25

Renewables in Rural Washington

Another force in the move towards more solar and renewable energy in the State of Washington is the “25x25” project, the goal of which is to produce 25 percent of our country’s energy from renewable resources like wind, solar, and biofuels by the year 2025.

A group of volunteer farm leaders first envisioned the goal of 25x25, and it quickly gained the support of a broad cross-section of the agriculture and forestry communities. Now leaders from business, labor, conservation and religious groups are joining this alliance as well. 25x25 is supported financially by the Energy Future Coalition, a non-partisan public policy initiative funded by foundations, and is endorsed by Washington politicians Sen. Cantwell, Rep. Inslee, and Rep. McMorris-Rodgers. The vision includes:

    * Bring new technologies to market and save consumers money.   
    * Reduce our dependence on oil from the Middle East.  
    * Create good new jobs in rural America.  
    * Clean up the air and help reduce urban smog and greenhouse gas emissions.

A national study undertaken by the University of Tennessee Department of Agricultural Economics (December 15, 2008) shows that if America’s farms, ranches and forestlands are empowered with the policies and incentives needed to meet 25 percent of the nation’s energy needs with renewable resources – biofuels, biomass, wind energy, solar power, geothermal energy and hydropower – an estimated $700 billion in new, annual economic activity would be generated, and 4 million to 5 million new jobs would be created.

The USDA, with their REAP (Rural Energy for America Program) Grants, is offering direct funding for energy efficient and renewable power projects, feasibility studies, and loan guarantees.  The BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs) also has grants and loan programs in place specifically to develop renewable power on Native reservations throughout Washington and the rest of the U.S.

When one looks at the enormous support that renewables such as solar power have gained over the years in Washington State, from individual homeowners to government agencies and policy makers, along with the immense increase in the overall solar PV market in the U.S. and around the world, one can see that the climate is right for Efficient Life Technologies, llc. to join an industry where in Washington, like the world, the demand continues to grow.