Political Solutions

Invest in farm-based renewable energy

The U.S. Farm Bill that stalled recently in the Senate offers innovative approaches to clean-energy that will be good for farm-energy-bill2.jpgfarmers and ranchers, rural economic development and the environment. The bill’s Section 9006 program provides grants and loan guarantees to farmers, ranchers and rural, small businesses for renewable energy development and energy efficiency improvements.

However, plans to provide $250 million in funding per year by 2012 have been scaled back to less than $50 million a year.

 

The 9006 program’s potential to reduce global warming pollution is real. A study by the Environmental Law & Policy Center concludes that approximately 57 million metric tons solar pecan drying system -per year of CO2 and other greenhouse gases could be saved or displaced, assuming that all projects that receive grant and loan guarantee awards are built. That equates, for example, to annual CO2 emissions from approximately 11.6 million vehicles.

At FarmEnergy.org, you can read about success stories implementing renewable energy solutions, get updates on policy action and download our report (pdf file) on how renewable farm-based energy can reduce global warming pollution.

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