Montpelier--Governor Jim Douglas and Lt. Governor Brian Dubie today announced their support for a new national energy initiative aimed at producing 25 percent of total energy consumed from renewable sources originating in America’s forests, farms and ranches by the year 2025.

Governor Douglas said the new national initiative—dubbed 25x'25—would have many benefits for Vermont. “This program can help us create jobs in our rural areas, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, inspire new renewable energy technologies and reduce global warming. This vision is in line with much of the work we are doing here in Vermont and can play an important role in America’s long-term energy future,” the Governor added. “Lt. Governor Dubie and I both look forward to helping to facilitate our own state-level 25x'25 alliance here in Vermont.”

Vermont is the 14th state in the US to endorse the initiative, and the first in New England. All energy uses – electricity, heating and cooling, transportation – are subject to the initiative.

Lt. Gov. Dubie said, "This is a true grassroots effort -- not a new government bureaucracy, but a loose collaborative of people all over our country and all over our state who are the entrepreneurs of our farms and forests, our peaks and waterways, and passionate about inventing a new, more secure way to fuel our way of life."

25x'25 is an energy initiative started by farm leaders. Across the country, farmers, ranchers, forest land owners and other leaders are coming together in state-level alliances to explore how the 25x'25 vision can help accomplish state energy, environmental and rural development goals.

For detailed information on 25x'25, go to http://www.25x25.org