Activities

• The 2008 Farm Bill (Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008) is now law.
  • A short summary of the final Farm Bill can be found here.
    • Read details on the Energy Title of the Farm Bill

• Click here for information on our 2^nd Forum on Energy Efficiency in Agriculture, held February 20-22, 2008
  • Vermont Law School’s Institute for Energy and the Environment launched an online Web site and handbook for farmers at ACEEE's Ag Forum
    
    
• ACEEE Testified before the Senate Agriculture Committee on the Role of Energy Efficiency and Conservation in Addressing the Current Energy Price Crisis Facing the Agricultural Sector (Nov 2005)
  • Press Release
  • Read Testimony
    
    
• ACEEE hosted its inaugural Forum on Energy Efficiency in Agriculture in Fall, 2005-- a two-day conference bringing together both the energy and agriculture communities for a dialogue addressing the promotion of energy-efficient technologies in this most crucial of American industries.

   — Read the Ag Forum Reflections

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on March 28, 2005 the availability of $22.8 million to support new renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements by agricultural producers and rural small businesses. The funds will support the use of renewable energy technologies such as biomass (including anaerobic digesters), geothermal, hydrogen, solar, and wind energy. Information on the 2005 Notice of Funds Availability is available online through Rural Development, USDA and Section 9006 of the 2002 Farm Bill.
  

ACEEE Technical Reports

• Reports
  A complete listing of Industry and Agriculture Program reports related to agriculture.

Additional Resources and Links

• Energy Solutions for Independent Farms - A resource of Vermont Law School's Institute for Energy and the Environment. Includes a handbook and web resources aimed at helping farmers increase energy self-reliance and profitability.
• Environmental and Energy Studies Institute (EESI) - EESI has been instrumental in supporting energy efficiency and renewable energy in the 2002 Farm Bill.
• Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC) - ELPC provides information on energy efficiency and renewable energy on their website. For their farm specific programs, please see http://www.farmenergy.org
• Focus on Energy - Focus on Energy works with Wisconsin residents and businesses to install energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
• MOSES (Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service) - Information on Organic Farming
• National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) - NCAT provides information and access to appropriate technologies to help achieve sustainability in the agricultural and energy sectors.
  • National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (ATTRA)
• The Farm Bill of 2002 - Text of the bill, including section 9006.
• History of ACEEE's Agriculture Projects

History of ACEEE Agriculture Projects:   In the fall of 2002, ACEEE gathered information on behalf of a coalition in an effort to assist the USDA program administrators (see ACEEE Farm Bill Press Release (4/30/02)). We catalogued energy programs that have already identified energy efficiency and renewable energy projects that may qualify for loan and grant funding through the farm bill. The results were presented at the listening session at the USDA for section 9006 on December 3, 2002. Our comments to USDA and the results of this initial survey are here: 2002 ACEEE Farm Bill Survey -- RESULTS
Survey Background Information:
Survey Instument

In 2003, Section 9006 was implemented through a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) while formal regulations were being formulated at USDA. Because of restrictions inherent to the NOFA process, only the grant program was available. While recognizing that the NOFA process was a mid-term solution while regulations were formed, ACEEE commented (singly and in conjunction with a coalition) on the challenges presented by the limited scope of the regulations:

• Initial ACEEE Comments to USDA regarding implementation of 9006: ACEEE

The 2003 grant cycle saw USDA awarding $21 million in grant money to 114 projects. ACEEE regards the overall grant cycle a success, and commends USDA for accomplishing a very challenging goal. Given the limitations of the NOFA and the challenges, specifically, to energy efficiency projects gaining funding, however, ACEEE investigated the reaction of applicants to determine what the challenges and barriers to efficiency projects.

In early 2004, ACEEE learned that regulations would not be promulgated in time to be used for the 2004 grant cycle, and a similar NOFA is set for release in April 2004. Further, we learned that the regulations, now scheduled for release in time for the 2005 grant cycle, were largely modelled on the NOFA. This increased the importance of ACEEE's research into the strengths and weaknesses of the 2003 NOFA process, as it might have implications for all five years of the grant and loan program.

Last Updated 5/25/08

For more information contact:
R. Neal Elliott, Industry and Agriculture Program Director
Sarah Black, Agriculture Research Assistant

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