Farm Energy

On April 3, 2019 over 50 diverse groups from around the USA signed on to a letter to Congressional in support of full mandatory and discretionary funding for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).

 

Support Letter Rural Energy for America Program

 

April 3, 2019

The Honorable Sanford Bishop, Chairman
House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee

The Honorable John Hoeven, Chairman
Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee

The Honorable Jeff Fortenberry, Ranking Member
House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee

The Honorable Jeff Merkley, Ranking Member
Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee

Dear Chairman Bishop, Chairman Hoeven, Ranking Member Fortenberry, and Ranking Member Merkley:

 

We, the undersigned organizations, urge you to support the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) by protecting mandatory funding as you consider agriculture appropriations legislation for fiscal year 2020. In addition we ask that you consider appropriating $20 million in discretionary funding to support the program. REAP drives renewable energy and energy efficiency investments benefitting farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses in every state and across agricultural sectors.

 

The 2018 Farm Bill once again demonstrated that REAP enjoys strong bipartisan support. Since its inception, REAP has helped over 16,000 farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses to produce clean energy, cut energy costs, and boost rural economic development.

 

Importantly, REAP investment leverages high private investment in our rural communities. REAP increases investment in rural economic development and growing new opportunities for rural small businesses and agricultural producers. Since the 2014 Farm Bill, REAP has leveraged more than $4 billion in private investment in rural economies.

 

REAP opens new opportunities to save and make money for farmers and rural small businesses in every state and across agricultural sectors. REAP supports a wide range of renewable energy and energy efficiency technology choices; including wind and solar power, advanced biofuels, farm digesters, and energy efficiency that cut farm input costs. REAP also creates new revenue streams, increasing farm income at a time when rural communities are struggling with a multiyear slump in the farm economy.

 

Protecting mandatory REAP funding and providing additional discretionary funding in FY 2020 will help bring the benefits of the program to more farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses. The 2018 Farm Bill includes $50 million per year in mandatory funding and allows for $20 million in discretionary funding. This funding level will enable REAP to continue to serve interested farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses and encourage more rural investment.

 

REAP is popular and widely supported, with requests exceeding available funds each year. This is not surprising, given that profit margins for rural small businesses and farmers improve as they cut costs with modern energy efficiency and generate their own energy through renewable energy technologies. Further, growing new opportunities with modern technologies helps to keep younger generations in rural areas and in farming.

 

REAP has a strong track record of success, and with full mandatory and $20 million  in discretionary funding we believe that REAP will continue to benefit farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses across the country while helping to meet our nation’s pressing energy, environmental, and rural economic development needs. Importantly, by reducing energy input costs, REAP provides relief to farmers struggling with low commodity prices.

 

Thank you for your consideration of fully funding REAP in FY2020.

Sincerely,

 

25x’25 Alliance

Advanced Biofuels Association

Agriculture Energy Coalition

American Biogas Council

American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy

Arkansas Advanced Energy Association

Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives

Bio Nebraska Life Sciences Association

Center for Rural Affairs

Clean Energy Economy Minnesota

Earthjustice

Environmental and Energy Study Institute

Environmental Law & Policy Center

Farmers Electric Cooperative – Kalona

Fresh Energy

Georgia Corn Growers Association

Georgia Poultry Federation

Geothermal Alliance of Illinois

Geothermal Exchange Organization

Illinois Environmental Council

Indiana Farmers Union

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy

Iowa Environmental Council

Iowa Solar Energy Trade Association

Kentucky Interfaith Power & Light, Inc

Kentucky Poultry Federation

League of Conservation Voters

Michael Fields Agricultural Institute

Michigan Farmers Union

Mississippi Poultry Association

Missouri Farmers Union

National Association of Energy Service Companies

National Farmers Union

National Rural Lenders Association

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

National Wildlife Federation

Natural Resources Defense Council

Nebraska Ethanol Board

Nebraska Farmers Union

New England Farmers Union

New York Interfaith Power & Light

Physicians for Social Responsibility

RENEW Wisconsin

Solar Energy Industries Association

Solar United Neighbors

Solutions from the Land

Spark Northwest

Texas Poultry Federation

The Business Council for Sustainable Energy

The Poultry Federation (AR, OK and MO)

The Stella Group, Ltd.

Tennessee Poultry Association

Union of Concerned Scientists

Vote Solar

Windustry

 

 

cc: House and Senate Appropriations Committee

 

Thursday, June 28, 2018

Washington, D.C. – Today the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry passed the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Farm Bill) by a vote of 20 to 1. The Senate Farm Bill continues important energy title programs, including funding for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) that provides incentives to farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses for energy efficiency and renewable energy. The committee voted to include an amendment to strengthen energy programs with mandatory funding.

Andy Olsen, Senior Policy Advocate at the Environmental Law & Policy Center, said:

“Thank you to the Senators of the Agriculture Committee for continuing REAP with essential mandatory funding. REAP has made a tremendous difference across agricultural sectors and for rural small businesses, bringing a broad range of renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency investments.”

Ann Mesnikoff, ELPC’s Federal Legislative Director added “The Senate Farm Bill’s continuation of REAP and the energy title with mandatory funding stands in stark contrast to the failed House bill that eviscerated both the energy title and mandatory funding for REAP and other programs.” The House version of the Farm Bill was defeated by a margin of 198-213 on May 18^th.

The committee adopted a bipartisan amendment to restore mandatory funding for programs within the energy title consistent with the 2014 Farm Bill. The bipartisan amendment was led by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) with senators from across the Midwest, including Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND).

“Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich. and Ranking Member of the committee) deserves great credit for being a champion of the Rural Energy for America Program,” Olsen added. “Her efforts have advanced a program that helps grow America’s farm energy potential and brings benefits to farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses across the country.”

 

Washington, D.C. – During consideration of the Farm Bill (The Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018), the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly rejected an amendment from Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ) to repeal the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and other Farm Bill Energy Title initiatives by a stunning 82%. The vote was 340 to 74.

In response, Andy Olsen, Senior Policy Advocate at the Environmental Law & Policy Center, said:
“The bipartisan House vote preserving the Energy Title sends a strong message that attempts to cut farm energy efforts should cease. Congress should step up and increase funding for effective farm energy initiatives like the Rural Energy for America Program. REAP serves all agricultural sectors and has benefited farmers throughout the Midwest and across the country.” 

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STATEMENT FROM ANDY OLSEN, SENIOR POLICY ADVOCATE and ANN MESNIKOFF, FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR, ENVIRONMENTAL LAW & POLICY CENTER

The Farm Bill proposal released today by Republicans on the House Agriculture Committee wholly eliminates reliable mandatory funding for programs in the Energy Title. The bill draft also would eliminate mandatory funding for the popular Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). Below is ELPC’s statement on the proposal”

“The House Farm Bill fails to continue mandatory funding for the REAP program that delivers benefits for farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses,” said Andy Olsen, Senior Policy Advocate at ELPC. “Congress should reject this proposal and work on a Farm Bill that reflects the vast support across the country for accelerating renewable energy and energy efficiency on farms and in rural communities.”

“This is only a starting point and ELPC will work with members to ensure REAP receives effective mandatory funding in a final bill. Last week, more than 80 organizations from across the country sent a letter to Congress expressing strong support for continuing REAP with reliable funding,“ said Ann Mesnikoff, ELPC’s Federal Legislative Director.

REAP provides grants and loan guarantees to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to adopt energy efficiency and renewable energy. The program serves all agricultural sectors and has reached every state. REAP has been highly popular with farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses, with requests regularly exceeding available funds.

To download the letter please visit http://farmenergy.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/FINAL-REAP-SUPPORT-LETTER-April-3-2018.pdf

 

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(April 3^rd, 2018) Eighty diverse organizations from around the country signed a letter to Congressional agriculture committees in support of the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).

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