Farm Energy

(February 15, 2012) On Monday, February 13, President Obama released his proposed budget for fiscal year 2013 under the cloud of an expiring Farm Bill and fiscal austerity demands. The President announced that renewable energy and energy efficiency were priorities; however, they were not priorities within his agriculture budget. In testimony this morning in Washington, Secretary Tom Vilsack said that the need to fund food stamps in this economy forced some hard choices in (more…)

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(October 7) Earlier this week, Indiana Republican Senator Richard Lugar and Indiana Republican Representative Marlin Stutzman (R-3rd) introduced Farm Bill reauthorization legislation, the Rural Economic Farm and Ranch Sustainability and Hunger Act (REFRESH).  It contains significant energy investments while assertedly saving taxpayers more than $40 billion over its five year life.  In particular, REFRESH includes key components of the existing Farm Bill Energy Title, including the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and the Biomass Crop Assistance Programs (BCAP).

(ALERT: While REFRESH is a positive step in the longer term, an immediate priority is next year’s budget. Please add your voice now to those opposing unfair cuts to REAP and BCAP. Time is of the essence – Congress may take further action very soon. Thank you.)

REFRESH provides nearly $1.3 billion in mandatory appropriations for five different clean energy programs with significant additional discretionary funding authorizations.  In particular, REFRESH includes annual funding of $70 million for the REAP program and an additional $80 million annually in discretionary funds.  The legislation also extends REAP to assist our nation’s rural schools with energy efficiency programs.

The legislation also supports the development of energy crops with the BCAP program.  REFRESH proposes to fund BCAP at $55 million dollars a year, with an additional $150 million a year in discretionary funding, while working to improve the program in several important respects. REFRESH includes complementary loan guarantee financing for biorefineries by continuing the Biorefinery Assistance Program for two more years.

REFRESH also adds a new Rural Energy Savings Program for rural electric cooperatives and others to help their customers save energy and money. REFRESH also extends the Biobased markets program.

Without reserving comment on the merits of the entire proposal, we applaud Senator Lugar and Representative Stutzman for recognizing that America’s the great potential for renewable energy from the heartland.  REFRESH affirms the value of energy for rural America, and the win-win of clean energy for rural economic development, energy security and environmental quality.

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ELPC and the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) gathered experts on agriculture and clean energy development in Washington on Tuesday, July 19 to address the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and other Farm Bill energy programs. Speaking to over 150 staffers and stakeholders in separate House and Senate briefings, they explained the broad benefits of these programs for farmers, businesses, economic development and national energy security policy. (more…)

**This briefing will be held twice on the same day **

Tuesday, July 19, 2011
10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
1302 Longworth House Office Building

Tuesday, July 19, 2011
2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
188 Russell Senate Office Building

The Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC) and Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invite you to a briefing on the energy title of the farm bill, with a special focus on the Rural Energy for America Program. (more…)

Decision Means Higher Energy Costs for Farms and Rural Businesses

(May 24, 2011) Today the House of Representatives’ Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee will  vote to eliminate the popular and effective Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) in its 2012 appropriations bill. REAP is the only federal program successfully helping farmers and rural small businesses fight high energy costs with renewable energy systems and energy efficiency.

“Killing REAP leaves agriculture and rural businesses at the mercy of high oil and electricity prices,” said Andy Olsen, ELPC Senior Policy Advocate. (more…)