February 13, 2007 (LITTLE ROCK)- The Arkansas House approved a $20 million plan to promote and research alternative fuels Monday, additional money that House Speaker Benny Petrus said would turn Arkansas into the "Silicon Valley" of renewable energy.
"This vote today will put us in the 21st century," Petrus said before the House vote. "We have to make the steps forward and we have to free ourselves of foreign oil."
The alternative fuels package easily passed the House as the Legislature saw no action on Gov. Mike Beebe's proposal to halve the state's 6-cent tax on groceries. The tax cut, which passed the House Friday, must go back before the Senate to agree with minor amendments before being sent to Beebe's desk. Work on the tax cut still could wrap up this week.
By a 98-2 vote, the House approved Petrus' proposal to provide the annual incentives for alternative fuel producers. The proposal proposal would require $10 million annually from the state's General Improvement Fund and another $10 million from general revenues. Read Full Article