Farm Energy

Renewable Energy Cuts Far Out of Proportion

The Senate Appropriations Committee slashed funding for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) in the Agriculture Appropriations Bill for FY2012. The Committee reduced overall funding from $75 million in FY2011 to $38.5 million in FY2012. REAP funding was already reduced in 2011 by 25% as the program continues to bear a disproportionate share of budget cuts. (more…)

President Obama’s proposed 2011 budget slates Farm Bill clean energy programs for some needed growth. The Administration released its budget in early February, and in it the President boosts next year’s funding level for REAP to its highest level ever: $109 million. The budget adds $39 million of discretionary funding on top of the $70 million in “mandatory” funding in the 2008 Farm Bill. (more…)

Good news on a key funding victory for the Farm Bill Energy Title! On October 16, 2009, the President signed the 2010 agriculture appropriations budget into law. The bill significantly increases the Rural Energy for America Program’s (REAP) total funding by adding an additional $39.34 million in discretionary funding to the program. That funding, in combination with the $60 million in mandatory funding for next year, increases total REAP funding to $99.34 million. (more…)

Today, May 15, 2009, 30 members of the US House of Representatives called for full finding for the clean energy programs in the Farm Bill. Led by Representatives Tim Walz (D-MN) and Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) a bipartisan group sent a letter to the Leadership of the Agriculture Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee seeking full funding for the programs in the 2008 Farm Bill Energy Title.

These new programs can help the nation develop new, modern, low carbon energy sources along with improving energy efficiency. Indeed, these programs demonstrate how agriculture can adapt and prosper within a low carbon economy.

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On March 11, 2009, President Obama signed the long-delayed FY2009 omnibus appropriations bill into law. It includes funding in 2009 for several cabinet departments and agencies, including USDA.

A key victory: This legislation added $5 million to the REAP program through a discretionary appropriation, increasing total REAP funding for 2009 to $60 million: $55 million in mandatory plus $5 million in discretionary funding. The bill neither added nor cut funding from any other Farm Bill Energy Title program.

For a complete summary of how Farm Bill Energy Title programs fared in 2009, and an update on the status of 2010 funding, please visit our Appropriations page.