U.S. Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers (KY-05) announced that the House of Representatives recently approved federal funding to research alternative energy sources in southern and eastern Kentucky. Through Rogers’ efforts, the FY 2010 Energy & Water Appropriations bill includes $250,000 for Morehead State University to begin a study on the availability of bioenergy resources throughout the region.

“Finding and cataloging our domestic energy resources is not only important for our long-term economic growth, keeping energy bills low for small businesses and working families, and creating good-paying Kentucky jobs, but it is absolutely essential to our national security,” said Rogers. “By taking an “all of the above” approach to energy, we have the potential to increase our supply right here at home and lessen our dependence on foreign oil while strengthening our global position in dealing with Russia, Venezuela, and Iran. We need to continue to invest in conservation and alternative energy projects so that we reduce costs in the short-term as we fine tune new technologies to provide a stable, long-term source of affordable and environmentally-friendly energy and southern and eastern Kentucky is an ideal place to start.”

The FY 2010 Department of Energy funding bill provides $250,000 for Morehead State University to analyze the availability of bioenergy in Appalachia. Bioenergy resources include eastern Kentucky’s vast abundance of wood residues (from forests and mills), underutilized land, corn, switchgrass, wheat straw, and animal wastes. Domestic bioenergy development could allow the United States to become less dependent on energy from fossil fuels, create a more energy efficient and environmentally-sound fuel stock, and decrease our dependence on foreign energy resources.

This legislation favorably passed out of the House of Representatives on July 17, 2009 and awaits Senate consideration this summer. Rogers works to obtain federal funding for projects across southern and eastern Kentucky in his role as a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee.