The U.S. House of Representatives is
expected to take up a long-awaited agreement on the Farm Bill today. The
compromise, which came late Monday, includes funding for programs that support
conservation and renewable energy in the Midwest.
While the Energy Title funding has been reduced overall, Andy Olsen, senior
policy advocate for the Environmental Law and Policy Center, said the
compromise provides some certainty for renewed growth in rural energy projects.
"America needs to continue to innovate with our energy economy, and we
need to do so in such a way that brings broad benefits," he said.
"These programs help farmers and they help the country, all at the same
time - so, it's very important that they continue."
Olsen said the compromise allows $881 million for the Energy Title over 10
years, including the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and the Biomass
Crop Assistance Program (B-CAP). If the bill passes, Olsen said, the funding
will support diverse technologies for renewable energy and energy-efficiency
initiatives in farm communities.
In Olsen's view, these programs benefit the environment while helping a
farmer's bottom line. He said REAP has been helpful to almost every agriculture
sector in every state.
"REAP supports a broad range of renewable-energy technologies - including
manure digesters, wind power, solar power, hydropower and biomass," he
said. "And then also, it supports energy-efficiency efforts as well."
B-CAP provides incentives to jump-start sustainable energy crops, he said, some
of which have added conservation benefits.
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