ND Governor Signs Legislation for Ag-Based Renewable Fuels

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http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=48366

North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven recently signed legislation enacting a comprehensive $42 million renewable energy plan, $7 million in new funding for an agricultural research greenhouse on the campus of North Dakota State University (NDSU), and a 34 percent budget increase for NDSU Agriculture.

"Agriculture is our number one industry, and renewable energy and value-added food and fiber offer unprecedented opportunities for our producers."-- Governor John Hoeven, North Dakota

The seven bills the Governor signed include HB 1462, which adopts the 25X25 Initiative and establishes an energy independence council; SB 2180, which creates a $5 million Biofuels PACE Fund; SB 2288, which creates the $3 million Renewable Energy Grant Fund, HB 1515, which creates the Biomass Demonstration Project; HB 1233, which creates $3 million of tradable income tax credits for installation of geothermal, solar and wind energy devices; HB1317, which extends a property tax deduction for wind generation units from 3 to 1.5 percent; and HB 1020, which increases the General Fund appropriation for NDSU Agriculture by 34 percent.

"Agriculture is our number one industry, and renewable energy and value-added food and fiber offer unprecedented opportunities for our producers," Hoeven said. "The incentives we worked to pass this session will help us develop new and better products for larger and broader markets than ever before."

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