The chorus of clean-energy advocates is growing louder – and more politically powerful – now that farmers are singing along. And they have good reason: Energy crops. Raw materials such as corn, soy, wheat, trees and even animal manure can be processed into cleaner-burning next-gen fuels. According to a new article in Grist.org, leaders of 70 agriculture groups recently joined the ambitious 25 x '25 alliance. It advocates that 25 percent of U.S. energy supplies come from America’s working lands – either from their crops or windmills and solar panels installed on those lands - by 2025.

“Land managers inherently understand how soil, water, air, and sunlight can be harnessed and harvested, be it for nourishment or fuel,” says Ernest Shea, a co-founder of 25 x '25,which is funded by the Energy Future Coalition. “We see this as something that will dramatically expand agriculture's role -- as a producer not just of food and fiber, but also energy for America."

Such a program could help solve climate change and move America toward energy independence, say advocates. But some greens are concerned that if the crops are not grown sustainably, the program could create as many environmental problems as it solves. There’s no denying, however, that the agricultural community can bring much-needed political firepower and mainstream acceptance to renewable energy.

Image credit: NREL.gov