Gov. John Hoeven and Republican legislative leaders on Thursday touted renewable energy legislation they say will enhance North Dakota's status as one of the nation's top energy suppliers.

Democrats said Republicans were trying to steal credit for measures they have long supported, and at least one member of a bipartisan group that promotes renewable energy said she was disappointed her group was not invited.

Bills in the House and Senate deal with everything from tax credits for investing in renewable energy projects to a $7 million greenhouse where North Dakota State University researchers could work on switchgrass and other raw materials for biofuels.

More than 20 bills in the Legislature deal with renewable energy, though some have been defeated. Hoeven and the lawmakers talked about 16 bills that total more than $43 million.

"Here in North Dakota, we want to double our production of energy for this nation by 2025," Hoeven said, flanked by a dozen GOP lawmakers at a news conference. "This is the kind of program that can get us to this goal."

Sen. Joel Heitkamp, D-Hankinson, said in an interview that he and other Democrats also have been working hard on renewable energy legislation. Several measures have sponsors from both parties, he said, adding that he believes a bipartisan effort is needed for a renewable energy package.

"If they want to steal our bills, put their names on them, fine, but let's get it done," Heitkamp said. "They remind me a lot of those second-stringers on the sidelines who at the end of the game are sitting there saying, 'We won the game.'"

Hoeven said the package of legislation is aimed at helping the nation become more energy-sufficient and improving North Dakota's rank as the sixth-largest energy producer.

"We intend to move up the ladder," he said.

The bills include such things as ethanol production incentives, subsidies, loan interest buy-downs and tax credits. "It's important that we do not have mandates," said Sen. Tim Flakoll, R-Fargo.

Randy Schneider, president of the North Dakota Ethanol Producers Association, said the diverse bills are a "holistic" approach, "literally taking it all the way from the planter box all the way to the pump."

Rep. Rick Berg, R-Fargo, the House majority leader, said lawmakers worked with private industry on the legislation.

"We're trying to do a public-private partnership to take some of the risk from them," he said.

The North Dakota Renewable Energy Partnership, a coalition of various organizations ranging from electric cooperatives and development corporations to commodity groups, has promoted renewable energy legislation.

Rep. Pam Gulleson, D-Rutland, a nonvoting member, said she was disappointed that representatives of the group were not invited to the news conference. She said the group played a role in at least a dozen renewable energy bills, including the one that includes the NDSU greenhouse.

"I was shocked to see that as part of the majority's effort," she said, referring to its inclusion in the material Hoeven and the Republican lawmakers handed out Thursday.

Hoeven said the bills were the result of "a broad, collaborative effort."

Gulleson said the partnership's chairman, Mike Clemens, a Wimbledon farmer, should have been invited to the news conference to show "a real sign of cooperation." Clemens declined comment.