Farm Energy

For the first time, the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) was included in major federal energy legislation. On May 12, 2010, John Kerry (D-MA) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) included REAP in the American Power Act, a comprehensive clean energy and climate bill. Previously, REAP has only been in Farm Bills.

As described in the short summary of the American Power Act:

Additionally, the bill supports the Rural Energy for America Program, which has already reduced costs and created thousands of new clean energy jobs across rural America.

To help spur the development and deployment of clean energy technologies economy wide, the American Power Act will include REAP at a level nearly three times the FY2010 funding of $99.34 million. The American Power Act seeks to jumpstart our transition to a clean energy economy, creating jobs and investment nation-wide and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.  The bill would also provide direct support to energy consumers and incentivize energy efficiency and renewable energy development.

Though the REAP program was included in the official bill summaries, it was inadvertently omitted from the discussion draft and will be included in later revisions.

This Congress has pledged to pass either a climate or a clean energy bill. REAP serves the goals of either type of bill:

• REAP cuts carbon pollution with energy efficiency and renewable energy deployment through rural economic development.
• REAP helps energy independence and energy security by reducing energy waste with energy efficiency and increasing distributed – and resilient – energy systems.

(April 26, 2010) Today, the USDA issued the Notice of Solicitation of Applications (NOSA) for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). The announcement can be downloaded here (PDF) and focuses on grants and loan guarantees for renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements. Two more notices are expected in the following days for energy technical assistance and for feasibility studies. (more…)

A new report from the Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC) unearths the stories of farmers and rural small businesses that are making clean energy their newest cash crop. (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…)

Farm energy solutions are helping more American farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses realize new income and savings opportunities this year, while reducing carbon pollution and helping our environment. REAP is “Exhibit A” in how farm energy can both slash carbon pollution and create economic opportunity for agriculture.

To help meet the fast-growing interest in farm energy, Congress allocated a total of $60 million for REAP in FY2009, and more funding is possible next year. Even so, demand for REAP’s funds far exceeds available funding.

This year, USDA announced record awards for 2009 for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). USDA awarded these funds as grants and loan guarantees to over 1,500 farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses across the country for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. (more…)