03/19/07 Planning 25x`25 & No Wal-Mart Bank

Planning 25 x25 & No Walmart Banks. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report. The world's largest retailer is not getting into the banking business. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is dropping its bid to establish a bank after months of heated debate over whether the world`s largest retailer should be allowed to gain the added financial power of a federally insured bank. Controversy broke out surrounding leases that Wal-Mart recently signed with banks that operate branches in hundreds of its stores, reserving the company`s right to offer an array of future financial services in its stores. According to the lease terms, Wal-Mart can offer future services including mortgages, consumer loans, home equity loans, investment and insurance products and any other type of service or product that the company might develop. By the year 2025  America's farms, ranches and forests will provide 25 percent of the total energy consumed in the United States. That is the goal of the 25 by 25 Action Plan. And that target will become a little more focused when the Third National 25 X 25 Renewable Energy Summit is held in Washington, D.C. The dates are March 20-22. SMITH: By the year 2025 that 25% of the total energy consumed in our country will come from renewables, from the land. Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Susan Allen. I was surprised to see an article in the New York Times telling Al Gore to basically take a chill pill and stop over sensationalizing global warming, the piece citied several notable scientist who have found that some of the science used for Gores movie an Inconvenient Truth, overstated the truth. Meanwhile other environmental groups are finding it difficult to arouse passion to make global warming the next big movement. Global Warming just doesn't resonate with the masses like equal rights, abortion issues or aides. Could it be human beings embrace being warm! In fact many of us spend thousands of dollars each year searching out warm places to vacation. Trying to get Northeasteners in the throws of one of the worst winters on record to dawn their snow shoes and protest Global warming simply won't fly. Maybe Global warming isn't all bad, it is said a warmer climate will mean that wine grapes will be grown in coastal zones and higher elevations. Wine and warmth, no wonder Global Warming is a tough sell. Now if we faced "Global Freezing" heck I would even become an activist. Thanks Susan. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.