Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., wrote a column posted on her website Friday making the case for a piece of energy legislation that came out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, describing the American Clean Energy Leadership Act as "common-sense solution that we need."

"The Senate Energy Committee bill would provide a boost to our green energy economy in Arkansas through its renewable energy and energy efficiency measures. Our state is a proud link to the supply chain for wind energy development with our manufacturing of wind mill blades and turbines. The bill would also allow Arkansas to make use of its great renewable biomass potential in everything from agricultural waste to tree residue, and increase our production of renewable energy."

Lincoln also continued her criticism of the idea of a cap-and-trade bill, saying lawmakers should focus on a bipartisan proposal to boost renewable energy and jobs.

"While I support the goals of curbing greenhouse gases and advancing clean-energy technologies, I don’t support the belief that cap and trade and burdensome regulation from the federal government are the only way to achieve those goals. Heavy-handed EPA regulation, as well as the current cap and trade bills circulating in Congress, will cost us jobs and put us at an even greater competitive disadvantage to China, India and others."

http://lincoln.senate.gov/…

Minnesota Study Questions Value of Deforestation

Most studies regarding the impact of the House climate bill on agriculture highlight potential afforestation due to acreage shifts based on the price of carbon. A study by University of Minnesota researchers shows that "a method to decrease carbon concentrations by converting farmland to woodlands would be ineffective," according to an article published by the campus newspaper, the Minnesota Daily.

The study shows it would be ecologically and economically unfeasible to convert millions of acres of cropland to forestry. (This is where I say I told you so.)

One scenario examined in the study looked at the amount of carbon that can be reduced by converting 10 percent of agricultural land, the article stated.

"It converts to almost 6 percent of the total row crop yield in the United States," stated Ed Nater, professor and department head of soil, water and climate at the University of Minnesota. "That is many billions of dollars."

Later in the article Nater states, "Our take home message is that this is not going to solve the problem."

http://www.mndaily.com/…

Back to Lincoln

Lincoln is in the midst of literal battle royal for her Senate seat. She's way down in the polls to GOP candidates even though the Republican primary has yet to pick a candidate. Lincoln is considered so vulnerable at the moment at least 10 Republicans are now running in that primary.

So Lincoln needs all of the help she can get. It's important for constituencies to rally around a candidate they value and to get others to join the cause. And that's why I was asked Friday in an e-mail from Lincoln's campaign to join African-Americans for Blanche.

http://www.democratsenators.org/…

I can be found on Twitter at chrisclaytonDTN.