Washington, DC – During consideration of this year’s energy bill, the U.S. Senate approved an amendment authored by Senator Russ Feingold supporting local alternative energy. Feingold’s amendment ensures that a new Energy and Environmental Block Grant program would provide resources to cities and counties nationwide to reduce fossil fuel emissions, reduce energy use, and improve energy efficiency.  Feingold’s measure, cosponsored by Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ), guarantees that these improvements will be done in a way that does not harm the environment and retains the benefits for activities within the local community such as encouraging local or cooperative ownership of bioenergy efforts. The bill, including the Feingold amendment, also passed the Senate.

“I am committed to advancing efforts that support local alternative energy, an issue I hear a lot about during the listening sessions I hold in every Wisconsin county each year,” Feingold said. “Our nation’s addiction to oil poses a significant threat to our economy, our security, and our environment. This effort allows state and local governments to forge a new direction in energy policy while creating opportunities for rural Americans to produce and benefit from renewable energy.”  

Wisconsin is home to five bio-diesel plants with three more under construction and several more proposed for construction.  Wisconsin is also home to six ethanol facilities with several more either under construction or proposed. 

Feingold’s energy amendment is based on his larger effort to increase opportunities for rural America proposed in his recent Rural Opportunities Act.  Introduced in February 2007, the Rural Opportunities Act helps sustain and strengthen rural economies for the future, and create more opportunities in rural communities.  A crucial component of the bill is ensuring that the potential benefits from domestic renewable energy are gained in an environmentally responsible manner that benefits local communities.