Renewable energy champions from across the country will gather in Omaha, NE March 11-13 to plan how to make 25x'25 a reality. "Bringing the Vision to Life: Win-Win Solutions for America's Energy Future" is a summit of expertise and advocacy that will bring together a wide variety of leaders who will explore next steps for fulfilling the 25x'25 Vision. President Bush last month signed into law federal energy legislation that endorses the 25x'25 Vision: By 2025, the agricultural, forestry and working land of the United States should provide from renewable resources not less than 25 percent of the total energy consumed in the United States and continue to produce safe, abundant and affordable food, feed and fiber.

The March Summit, co-hosted by the Nebraska 25x'25 Alliance, will mark the fourth anniversary of an initiative that started with a small group of farm leaders that has now grown to an alliance of more than 630 agriculture, forestry, environmental, energy, business, labor and government partners across the country. This year's Summit will kick off the next stage in co-operative efforts among state alliance leaders and other renewable energy champions in 2008 to bring the 25x'25 Vision to life. The Summit also will challenge members of coalitions in more than two dozen states that worked relentlessly in 2007 to promote the 25x'25 Vision to continue their local, regional and national efforts to make the goal a reality in the next 17 years.

Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman, the 2007 Chair of the Governors' Ethanol Coalition, will deliver a keynote address underscoring the role of state leaders and renewable energy champions in this next phase of the 25x'25 Initiative. Heineman was among the first of 28 governors that have endorsed the 25x'25 Vision to date. Summit participants will discuss and learn about policies that will enable the 25x'25 Vision to come to life, including The 25x'25 Action Plan: Charting America's Energy Future; how to achieve a sustainable energy future; what roles agriculture and forestry will play in a reduced-carbon economy; and how infrastructure obstacles can be overcome. There will also be discussions on the food-versus-fuel debate; boosting the wind energy sector; the next generation of biofuels; and the role of the livestock industry in a renewable energy future. Breakout sessions are also scheduled to give summit participants the opportunity to share and learn about issues affecting renewable energy on a regional level.

With a clear goal now written into the federal statutes, the 25x'25 Vision is mobilizing a broader range of constituencies to support a new energy future that will sustain the nation's resource base and protect the environment; boost the use of woody biomass; meet biofuel and electricity infrastructure challenges; and clarify the role agriculture and forestry can play in reducing and capturing greenhouse gas emissions ? all while improving soil, water and air quality, and wildlife habitat; lowering the costs of energy; and improving economic and national security.

Join us March 11-13 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Omaha where grassroots renewable energy champions will come together to set the course to achieve the 25x'25 Vision.