Sen. Kit Bond calls for tax incentives, increased clean-energy output by businesses
COLUMBIA (AP) — Missouri Sen. Kit Bond is urging state lawmakers to make it easier for new businesses to turn sawdust, wood pellets and other unused forest products into a source of cleaner energy.
The retiring Republican senator hosted a round-table discussion Monday intended to promote cleaner energy sources as a way to boost the state’s economy. The U.S. Forest Service estimates that nearly 80 million cubic feet of logging residue sat idle in privately owned Missouri forests in 2007. State lumber mills accounted for another 80,000 tons of leftover sawdust.
Bond encouraged several state lawmakers, local elected leaders and business owners to support tax incentives to encourage the use of wood waste and other biomass products. That’s the approach used by some southern states to promote the industry.
