Efficient bioenergy technologies are key pathways to use domestic resources to answer the President's call to end our addiction to fossil fuels.

WASHINGTON, June 18 - The American Biogas Council (ABC) and the Biomass Thermal Energy Council (BTEC) issued a statement supporting the President Obama's recent remarks and the American Energy Innovation Council's call to dramatically increase U.S. investments in clean energy technologies. Both organizations released the following announcement:

"If we want to reduce oil consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in our country, we must ensure that sustainable, renewable biomass is a part of the solution. Technologies that employ renewable biomass provide clean, efficient and affordable alternatives to heating oil, natural gas and other fossil fuels.

In many states, oil is used to generate thermal energy for water and space heating. If wood pellet boilers, furnaces and stoves are used instead, we reduce the need for foreign and domestic oil. Likewise, current technology can produce natural gas renewably through anaerobic digestion. This biogas can utilize a variety of resources, from cow manure to sewage and yard waste --and they are shovel ready. Currently, these energy rich products are considered waste.

Efficient bioenergy technologies are key pathways to use domestic resources to answer the President's call to end our addiction to fossil fuels. If Congress and the Administration decide to act, we can substitute fossil fuels with existing renewable resources to provide clean, sustainable energy and new jobs, lower customer's energy bills, and create a new revenue source in our communities.

Right now, America is losing the clean energy race to other countries around the world. We need a positive environment for investment. There are existing resources and technologies to change that status quo and meet energy and environmental challenges at the same time. America cannot continue to wait."

The ABC and BTEC represent more than 120 companies and organizations.

About the American Biogas Council
About the American Biogas Council The American Biogas Council (ABC) promotes the use and generation of renewable natural gas, or biogas, using anaerobic digester technologies. Biogas can be made in urban and rural communities and is responsible way to meeting America's energy and environmental needs. For more information, visit www.americanbiogascouncil.org.

About the Biomass Thermal Energy Council
The Biomass Thermal Energy Council (BTEC) is a non-profit association dedicated to advancing the use of biomass for heat and other thermal energy applications. BTEC is an association of biomass fuel producers, appliance manufacturers and distributors, supply chain companies and non-profit organizations that view biomass thermal energy as a renewable, responsible, clean and energy-efficient pathway to meeting America's energy needs. For more information, visit www.biomassthermal.org.