News releases

Southern Growth Policies Board and Southeast Agriculture
& Forestry Alliance Partner on Renewable Energy Initiative

New Southeast Agriculture & Forestry Energy Alliance to Advance Research,
Promotion and Growth of Renewable Energy

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC - Southern Growth Policies Board and the Southeast Agriculture and Forestry Energy Alliance Steering Committee announced today their partnership and the creation of a new Southeast Agriculture & Forestry Energy Alliance to support the research, commercialization and promotion of renewable energy initiatives in the region. The partnership was formally announced at a meeting of Southern Growth Policies Board’s members in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina on January 29th.

The new Southeast Agriculture & Forestry Energy Alliance will be composed of organizations and individuals from the agricultural, forestry, conservation and environmental communities as well as researchers, industry representatives, grassroots organizations, and other renewable energy champions. The Alliance will formally create a network to collect and share critical information for the commercialization of renewable energy technologies and will work to forge consensus on policies and programs needed to develop bioenergy production. The Alliance will provide advocacy and education to help position the southeast region as the national leader in the production of renewable forms of energy. The Alliance also plans to create a virtual resource center to connect members to research, news and data.

The Energy Foundation, a partnership of major donors interested in solving the world's energy problems, supported the development of the Alliance. Southern Growth will serve as management and fiscal agent for the Southeast Agriculture & Forestry Energy Alliance and assist in community outreach and information gathering. A Steering Committee composed of Alliance members will lead and direct the initiative. Energy is also a key component of the Southern Innovation System, an initiative of the Southern Technology Council. The Southern Technology Council is the technology and innovation advisory council to Southern Growth Policies Board.

About the Southeast Agriculture and
Forestry Energy Alliance Steering Committee
The Southeast Agriculture and Forestry Energy Alliance Steering Committee, composed of agricultural, forestry and renewable energy leaders in the southeastern U.S., was formed in October 2005 to provide strategic leadership in mobilizing the agricultural and forestry sectors to embrace and work proactively in support of new energy solutions.

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About Southern Growth Policies Board
Southern Growth Policies Board is a public policy think tank based in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Formed by the region’s governors in 1971, Southern Growth Policies Board researches and develops economic development policies by providing a forum for collaboration among a diverse cross-section of the region’s governors, legislators, business and academic leaders and the economic and community development sectors. Southern Growth provides its members, and the region, with authoritative research, discussion forums and pilot projects in the areas of technology and innovation, globalization, workforce development, community development, civic engagement and leadership.
To learn more about Southern Growth Policies Board, visit www.southern.org.