25 by 25

February 8, 2006

There seems to be an overload of destabilizing things going on -- the War in Iraq, fighting in Afghanistan, Iran wants nuclear weapons, oil prices threaten to surge to new heights, and on and on.

As unsettling as all of thee developments are, it appears to me that they will finally push us to do something about our (as President Bush said) "addiction to oil."

Even after the gas lines ofthe 70's, President Carter couldn't break our addiction. President Nixon also tried and failed. We almost look with envy at Brazil that 20 years ago began an effort to achieve energy independency. Why didn't we try harder? The answer is simple. Oil was always cheap. With a free market economy, there is little incentive to make any big switch. Alternative energy pioneers like ADM never gave up, though. Now, everyone wants in the act.

I have attended two meetings of an organization called the Ag Energy Working Group. Their goal is 25 x 25. 25% of our Energy from agriculture by 2025. Two years ago, the idea sounded farfetched. But not now.

Something has to happen to make the farming business more positive. Expanding our market into fuel should strengthen price. When you look back in time, man has always relied on renewable fuel. Pioneers in this country burned wood. We can grow wood, and corn, and soybeans, and sugar cane (as they do in Brazil) for fuel.

As President Bush advocates, I'm all in favor of replacing 75% of our Middle Eastern oil imports by 2025.

Wind energy sounds good to me. How did the pioneer pump water for their cattle -- wind energy, the wind mill.

With the right incentive, and the higher oil price is that incentive, America can rise to the challenge. However, if the price of oil collapses, we'll be right back where we were before.

Until next week, I am John Block from Washington.