Please visit http://www.woodybiomass.com (it is a site hosted by John Deere) and if you feel so inclined, email your congressional delegation with something similar to what I sent mine:

“Please seek legislation to help improve the capability of woody biomass to be classified as a “renewable energy source”. By utilizing dead, down, diseased trees and shrubs, we can reduce our dependence on foreign energy sources, as well as, help to reduce the risk of structure losses due to wildfires. This is a win, win, win, situation if you also include the fact that rural communities would also benefit from an additional revenue stream to their local economies. Currently, the Department of Energy has a facility in South Dakota that is an experiment in BioFuel production. We should have 1 or 2 of these facilities in Northern Minnesota to help speed the process to a better BioFuel production capability.

I appreciate any time and legislative support, in advance, that you will give to this issue.”

The more people that hold our elected officials to the fire, the better we can make our government.

And Klobuchar’s response (I’m guessing it is canned or a staffer wrote it, but I could be wrong).

June 30, 2010

Dear Mr. Glesener:

Thank you for contacting me about climate change. I appreciate hearing your thoughts and concerns on this important issue.

Environmental conservation and stewardship is an important part of Minnesota’s heritage – and it’s part of my own family heritage, too. Like most Minnesotans, I grew up in a family that values the outdoors. I believe that we must protect our country’s natural resources for the enjoyment of generations to come. Setting up the right long-term policies – such as encouraging recycling, developing renewable energy sources, and promoting innovation – will protect our environment and our economy and preserve our country’s leadership in the world.

As a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I am working to pass legislation to protect our environment, including legislation to address the threats from global climate change. In 2007, I cosponsored America’s Climate Security Act, and authored the first title of the bill – a provision that I call the “carbon counter.” This provision creates the first national greenhouse gas registry to monitor, verify, and report greenhouse gas emissions. I am happy to report that the new Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency recently unveiled new rules that include my greenhouse gas provision.

Creating a stable market for renewable energy is the key to unleashing innovation, the defining strength of the American economy.  That is why, along with Republican Senator Olympia Snowe, I introduced the bipartisan American Renewable Energy Act (S. 826), which would create a national renewable electricity standard similar to the current standard in Minnesota, where utility companies are required to produce at least 25 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2025.  This legislation will create a national and predictable domestic market for renewable energy, provide the long-term stability businesses need when deciding how to invest their resources, and drive economic growth and technological innovation.

As you know, we are already working toward a new energy and climate change bill in the United States Senate. With your support, I am confident that our efforts to tackle this historic challenge will finally prevail.

Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me. One of the most important parts of my job is listening to what the people of Minnesota have to say to me. I am here in our nation’s capital to do the public’s business and to serve the people of our state. I hope you will contact me again about matters of concern to you.

Sincerely,

Amy Klobuchar

United States Senator