07/20/06 Senate Energy Comittee

Fuel costs are hurting everyone these days. From families on vacation to the combines and tractors used to harvest crops. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 included provisions on hydrogen and fuel cell research and development. On Monday - the Senate Energy Committee met to review the implementation of those provisions. And according to witnesses - the energy bill passed by Congress last year - as well as the Freedom Car program and the Hydrogen Fuel Initiative - have prompted the sharp expansion of investment in hydrogen and fuel cell research, development and demonstration projects. Given the current cost of gasoline - and the impact those increased costs have had on Ag producers and the public in general - Tennessee Republican Senator Lamar Alexander says the impact of the energy bill and the consideration of energy alternatives is a hot topic. ALEXANDER: This should be an especially interesting hearing because its talking about a substitute, a possible substitute for the internal combustion engine by the use of hydrogen fuel cells. And as the price of oil heads towards 80 dollars and there's a crisis in the Middle East, people talk about the possibility of 4 dollar a gallon gasoline, as we see the price of gasoline 4 times as high as it was in 1997, anything that has promise for reducing our dependence on oil from overseas is welcome. Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Susan Allen. With the eco-Epicurean movement sweeping the nation, environmentally discerning wine consumers have some decisions to make regarding the wine they drink. Do they want a sustainably produced wine, organic or the newest label, a biodynamic wine? While sounding like something from L. Ron Hubbard, Biodynamics actually stems from Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner's lectures in the 1920's. It differs from organic because it incorporates a spiritual dimension to winemaking. In a new age sense biodynamic grower's look to the cosmos for direction, they might opt to plant with moon phases or celestial vestiges. Biodynamics also incorporates mid evil practices like horning, burying manure in a steer's horn over the winter to make a spring fertilizer, in our era of handi-wipes at petting zoos; I wonder who gets to dig them up. Some big players like Deloach Vineyards are promoting the practice, and with competition fierce in the wine industry, we can expect more labels promoting biodynamics. Thanks Susan. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.