Agriculture Energy Coalition Members Applauds Senators’ Support of Farm Bill Energy Programs

WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Agriculture Energy Coalition today issued the following statement
thanking Sen. Al Franken (D-MN), Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Sen. Tammy
Baldwin (D-WI) for introducing the Agricultural Energy Programs
Reauthorization Act of 2017, which will reauthorize programs in Title IX
of the Farm Bill and provide robust funding through 2023.

“We commend Sen. Franken for introducing this important bill to
reauthorize and enhance Farm Bill energy programs,” said Lloyd Ritter,
executive director of the Agriculture Energy Coalition. “If adopted, the
legislation would improve already valuable programs. For instance, it
would make renewable chemicals facilities fully eligible to participate
in the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product
Manufacturing Assistance Program. It would also expand the BioPreferred
program, improve the already popular REAP program by expanding support
to a variety of sustainable, commercial clean energy technologies, and
add new mandatory funding to create economic and energy opportunities
for rural America. We are grateful for the Senator’s efforts.”

“Crop prices and farm incomes have been declining, so farmers are
counting on the Farm Bill to help them develop new markets and new
economic opportunities,” said Brent Erickson, executive vice president
of BIO’s Industrial & Environmental Section. “The energy programs this
bill supports will help revitalize the agriculture and manufacturing
sectors in America and promote innovation in the biobased economy, and
we thank Sen. Franken for his leadership.”

“Farm Bill energy programs help farmers improve efficiency, reduce farm
energy costs, and access new revenue streams,” said Roger Johnson,
president of the National Farmers Union. “NFU is thankful for Senator
Franken’s leadership on these programs, and is especially supportive of
the increase in funding for the Rural Energy for America Program.
Congress should continue to support programs that incentivize smart,
clean energy use and production on the farm and in rural areas.”

“This season's raging forest fires out West illustrate the importance of
funding for the removal of hazardous fuel from federal lands through
programs like Biomass Crop Assistance Program,” said Carrie Annand,
executive director of Biomass Power Association. “Taking high risk fiber
out of the forest promotes forest health; taking it to a biomass
facility ensures that we are getting value out of that material by
making it into fuel for electricity. We commend Senator Franken for
including BCAP in his draft Farm Bill Energy Title, and we look forward
to working with him to ensure that it is included in the final bill.”

“The rural and agricultural communities of our country are the backbone
of our economy, and providing these farmers the tools to leverage
on-site technology, like distributed wind, will reap benefits for all,”
said Jason Kaplan, United Wind, and Distributed Wind Energy Association
member.

Contacts

Agriculture Energy Coalition
Lloyd Ritter, 202-215-5512