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President Calls for Biobased Products, Bioenergy Strategy

August 20, 1999
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President Clinton has issued an Executive Order to develop and promote biobased products and bioenergy as economically viable alternatives to fossil fuel-based production and energy generation. The order calls for the development of a national strategy that includes research, development, and private sector incentives to stimulate the creation and early adoption of technologies needed to make biobased products and bioenergy cost competitive.



The Executive Order specifically outlined the following three action items for the departments of Agriculture, Energy, and Treasury, and the EPA:

  • Within four months, USDA and DOE are to prepare a report outlining and assessing options for modifying existing federal programs in FY 2001 to promote biobased products and bioenergy with the goal of tripling US use of bio-based materials by the year 2010. Types of DOE and USDA programs mentioned as examples include technology assistance, small business, extension, education and conservation and utility programs. The report also is to assess tax code modification alternatives, methods to increase federal use, and adoption of biobased products and energy.
  • The EPA is to review any actions recommended for environmental benefits, concerns, and the next environmental consequences of biobased products and bioenergy with particular emphasis on net emissions of greenhouse gases, air pollution emissions in manufacturer of biobased products and bioenergy, and changes in water quality, soil erosion, pesticide/fertilizer use and wildlife habitat as a result of land use changes associated with increase biomass production. EPA is also to consider the recommendations outlined in Biobased Industrial Products, a report prepared by the National Academies of Sciences.
  • USDA and DOE are to develop educational, promotional and marketing campaigns for biobased products and bioenergy.

President Clinton's remarks may be found under What's New on the White House website http://www.whitehouse.gov/