Environmental Law & Policy Center » Farm Energy

Wind Industry Executives Join ELPC at U.S. Capitol

Kcoleman — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:39:47 +0000

Today, wind industry executives joined ELPC at the U.S. Capitol to convey the urgency of extending the Production Tax Credit (PTC) for the wind industry. Their message: This vital tax credit means good-paying rural and urban jobs for real people, and it means investment and innovation for America’s future. Because of the long lead time to develop, manufacture and install wind power, executives urged Congress to act now in order to avoid halting development in 2013, which would permanently hamper the U.S. wind supply chain.

Read more comments on Twitter @ELPCenter #ptcbriefing

Fox Business News reported the story here.

Video: Save Farm Energy Programs

Kcoleman — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:34:55 +0000

Video: Save Farm Energy Programs

Detroit Free Press Commentary: Stand Up for Agricultural Programs

Kcoleman — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:34:17 +0000

Jim Byrum, President of the Michigan Agri-Business Association, appeared in the Detroit Free Press as a guest commentator. He discusses the need to continue the Farm Bill Energy Title, which encourages renewable energy on farms in Michigan and elsewhere as a way to provide farmers with additional opportunities for income and which helps reduce our dependance on foreign oil. Read the commentary.

Senate Appropriations Committee Slashes Funding for Farm Energy Programs

Kcoleman — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 19:10:57 +0000

The Senate Appropriations Committee slashed funding for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) in the Agriculture Appropriations Bill for FY2012. The program continues to bear a disproportionate share of budget cuts — while most Farm Bill programs were reduced by only 5%, the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) was reduced by nearly 50% and the Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels by nearly 30%.

REAP is a popular and oversubscribed program that has funded more than 7,600 farm energy projects since 2003, directly benefiting farmers in all agricultural sectors and every state by making renewable energy and energy efficiency projects more affordable. Because the program provides grants to cover 25% of the cost, the $36.5 million dollars cut from REAP jeopardizes at least $146 million of overall private and public investment – and jobs — in rural America.

National Ag Energy Leaders Explain Importance of Farm Bill Energy Title

Kcoleman — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 22:13:04 +0000

ELPC and the Environmental and Energy Study Institute brought together national and regional experts on agriculture and clean energy development to report from the field on the importance of the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and other parts of the Farm Bill Energy Title. Listen to the briefing.

Speakers included:

Bruce Knight, Dairy Advisor for Strategic Conservation Solutions, LLC and former Chief of Natural Resources Conservation Service at the USDA under President Bush
Bennie Hutchins, Principal, Ag Energy Resources, Mississippi
Bill Midcap, Farmer and Rural Development Specialist, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, Colorado
Andy Olsen, ELPC Senior Policy Advocate

REAP incentivizes a broad range of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies for all agricultural sectors across the country. The program has helped thousands of rural producers and businesses slash energy costs and earn new income with energy efficiency and renewable energy. Dairy and poultry producers, rural electric cooperatives, and other rural producers and small businesses throughout the country are successfully using REAP. The Energy Title is helping to accelerate advanced biofuels and bioproducts production, chiefly through the Biorefinery Assistance Program and the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP).

To learn more, visit ELPC’s dedicated website, FarmEnergy.org.

You can also listen to today’s briefing on BarnMedia.

President Obama’s Proposed Investments in Clean Energy and Rail Infrastructure Will Create Green Jobs and Economic Growth in the Midwest

jgeiger — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 17:13:31 +0000

STATEMENT OF HOWARD A. LEARNER, Executive Director
Environmental Law & Policy Center

“Americans do believe that environmental progress can be achieved together with job creation and economic growth. President Obama’s address identified Midwestern clean energy and high-speed rail development projects where this is already happening.

Hundreds of old-line Rust Belt manufacturers are retooling to produce equipment for the growing clean energy economy, as shown by the Environmental Law & Policy Center’s recent reports. Federal investments in renewable energy are spurring job growth and revitalizing the Midwest manufacturing sector. The Michigan solar company highlighted in the President’s speech is a good example. After decades of decline, America’s clean energy industry is creating new manufacturing jobs and making us more globally competitive.

We can’t build a 21st century economy with a 19th century transportation infrastructure. In Illinois and Michigan, federal investments in high-speed rail are creating construction and supply chain jobs today that will improve and expand transportation options tomorrow. Modern, fast, comfortable and convenient rail development will improve mobility, reduce pollution, create new jobs and spur economic growth.

The President’s clean energy and high-speed rail proposals are investments in America’s future. Here, in the Midwest Heartland, let’s seize these opportunities to strengthen our economy, create jobs and improve our environment in ways that make good sense and make our nation more competitive.”

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Farm Energy Briefing – REAP Higher Profits with Clean Energy

Kcoleman — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 16:59:16 +0000

On December 15th, the Environmental Law & Policy Center and USDA Rural Development hosted a briefing about REAP, the Rural Energy for America Program. Renewable energy and energy efficiency projects can reduce energy costs and generate new income for farmers, ranchers and rural small business owners. USDA’s REAP program provides grants and loan guarantees nationwide. Some use REAP incentives to upgrade to more efficient ventilation, pumps, coolers, insulation, or heating and cooling systems. Others now generate their own energy with solar panels, wind turbines, biogas or biofuels.

Hundreds of farmers, ranchers and businesses are making greater profits and slashing energy costs with REAP. Mindi Grieve of the Environmental Law & Policy Center and Dennis Rodin of USDA’s Office of Rural Development explained the program and answer your questions.

New Supply Chain Study Shows Wind Energy Produces More Jobs and Business Growth for Iowa

Kcoleman — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 15:57:57 +0000

Des Moines – The Environmental Law and Policy Center has released a new study of Iowa’s wind energy supply chain. According to the study, Iowa’s wind power supply chain comprises 80 Iowa companies with a total of over 2,300 employees in manufacturing alone. The state ranks second nationally in total wind energy generation. With local manufacturers building everything from huge turbine blades to small electrical components, and service firms providing maintenance, legal, marketing and other support to the industry, wind power means business for Iowa.

“Wind energy creates good jobs and business growth across Iowa and across different sectors,” said Howard Learner, Executive Director of the Environmental Law & Policy Center. “Smart policies can bring more wind businesses to Iowa – that’s good for both economic growth and better environmental quality.”

The report states that a commitment to business development combined with tax incentives, a skilled workforce and a central location have helped make Iowa a leader in the wind industry.

The report highlights supply chain companies across the state, from locally owned small businesses to seven international manufacturing companies. In addition to the 80 existing supply chain companies, the study identified more than 30 additional Iowa companies that could supply the wind industry if demand increased.

The report notes that strong regulatory and tax policies are key to growing any industry, and the wind industry is no exception. The proposed strong federal renewable energy standard would help grow Iowa’s economy by increasing Iowa’s export opportunities for both wind power and manufactured wind turbine components and professional services.

To download a copy of the report, visit www.elpc.org/iowawind.

Argus Leader – New Hope Rises For Renewable Energy

Kcoleman — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 15:45:48 +0000

A National Renewable Electricity Standard would ramp up the development of homegrown clean energy nationwide, which will reduce pollution, improve national security and energy independence and create economic development – especially in places like South Dakota, where huge wind energy resources can create new jobs and revenue for rural areas.

It’s an idea that is receiving bipartisan support in the wake of the political battle over cap and trade legislation. As ELPC Policy Advocate Matt Mclarty told the Argus Leader, “There are not many Republicans or Democrats out there that don’t want to see America move toward a more sustainable, homegrown source of energy.”

South Dakota’s wind energy industry has the potential to create thousands of new jobs in the state and create a substantial new source of income.

Read the article in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader

ELPC Holds Washington Briefings on New Energy Crop Program

Kcoleman — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 19:40:05 +0000

On June 21st and 22nd, ELPC held briefings in Washington, D.C. to educate House and Senate staff on the environmental and energy benefits of sustainably-grown “energy crops.” ELPC, in partnership with National Farmers Union (NFU) and the 25x’25 Alliance, convened the briefings, which featured speakers from ELPC, National Wildlife Federation, the University of Illinois, and industry organizations. Moderated by ELPC Staff Attorney and Policy Advocate Karen Bridges, the briefings focused on the federal Farm Bill’s Biomass Crop Assistance Program, or “BCAP.”

Sustainable biomass and biofuel crops could become an important clean energy resource, but farmers want to be sure there’s a market for these crops before they plant them, and power producers want to be sure there’s a supply of these crops before they buy them. BCAP was intended to help break this “chicken and egg” dilemma by offsetting a portion of the costs of growing and harvesting new energy crops and other biomass feedstocks. Congress passed BCAP in the 2008 Farm Bill, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is just starting to fully implement it.

With this briefing and related activities, ELPC is seeking to persuade USDA to hard-wire strong environmental protections in the BCAP rules and prioritize the right energy crops for development. If grown and harvested correctly, BCAP can boost on-farm income, help rural communities, and improve environmental quality.

Click here to view presentations on BCAP from National Wildlife Federation, Anna Rath, Show Me Energy Cooperative and University of Illinois.

For more information on BCAP and other Farm Bill Energy Title programs, please visit FarmEnergy.org.