Congress Urged to Invest in Agriculture
Posted: January 14, 2009
A diverse coalition of 34 business, agriculture and environmental groups, including the National Corn Growers Association, is asking Congressional leaders to support an economic recovery package that provides strong funding for agriculture-based, clean energy development programs.
The National 25x’25 Steering Committee and other renewable energy advocacy groups outlined a three part recommendation in a letter to Congressional leaders this week. The letter recommends including at least $1.2 billion each year in mandatory supplemental appropriations for important Farm Bill Energy Title programs; restructuring and extending the federal Production Tax Credits (PTC) for renewable energy, cellulosic biofuels, and biomass for five years; and extending and expanding successful clean renewable energy and conservation bond programs which provide PTC-like incentives for electric cooperatives, public power, and municipalities to build new renewable energy facilities and invest in energy efficiency.
“Our nation’s agriculture and forestry industries can not only provide a good portion of our overall energy supply, but also a new green energy future that will stimulate and reinvigorate our economy,” said Bart Ruth, chairman of the 25x’25 policy committee. “A small investment in rural America and clean, green energy development has the potential to provide a new economic foundation for the entire country.”
The coalition is largely made up of agricultural organizations, but also includes such groups as the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and the Environmental Law & Policy Center.
