Clinton Will Ask for 'Bioenergy' Funding in Budget

January 14, 2000

President Clinton will ask Congress to provide an additional $243 million in research and grants to produce "bioenergy" and other products such as plastic and chemicals from agricultural waste. Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman said the program will "strengthen the farm and rural economy."

The budget request will include $194 million for USDA and $49 million for the Department of Energy in additional money. That would bring the total federal spending to $439 million for research to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy fuels.

Glickman said the proposal would increase the production of biobased fuels, including ethanol. "During these difficult times in American agriculture, farmers need all the new market opportunities they can get," he said. "This kind of diversification will not only help protect our environment, it will also strengthen the farm and rural economy."