Farm Energy

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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President Obama today (May 7, 2009) proposed to more than double total planned funding for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) next year, FY2010, to $128.1 million. (more…)

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.

Harkin, Colleagues Push Stimulus Amendment that Would Invest In Biofuels, Other Homegrown Energy Sources

Measure would shift an additional $1.14 billion to support energy programs at USDA

February 6, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA), John Thune (R-SD), Tim Johnson (D-SD), and Jon Tester (D-MT) introduced an amendment (#397) to the economic recovery legislation tonight that would move $1.14 billion from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) into energy programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (UDSA). The measure will be voted on tonight. (more…)

On January 6, 2009, the Environmental Law & Policy Center and a diverse collection of 33 other groups and companies, including the 25×25 Alliance and key farm groups, proposed a robust and comprehensive suite of clean energy programs for inclusion in the federal economic recovery program that will stimulate job creation.

Summary of the Farm Energy Economic Recovery Program

You can download the full letter here (PDF format). Following is a quick summary of the three-part proposal.

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