The USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) will hold meetings for stakeholders focusing on Rural Development’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). The energy programs implemented under the 2008 Farm Bill continue to be a priority of the Secretary of Agriculture, the Undersecretary of Rural Development, and the Administrator of Rural Business-Cooperative Service. Benefits of these energy programs include decreasing the energy costs to rural communities, small businesses, and farms; converting renewable resources into clean energy; creating and saving jobs; and increasing energy security for the nation.
At this meeting, USDA-Rural Development staff will provide updates on the Rural Energy for America Program; discuss ways the Agency can leverage resources; and to reiterate USDA’s commitment to achieving energy independence goals.
The USDA Rural Development North Carolina State Office will be hosting a meeting of stakeholders on: Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 2 p.m. The location is at the USDA-RD North Carolina State Office, 4405 Bland Rd. Suite 260, Raleigh, NC, 27609.
You are encouraged to contact the Rural Development Energy Coordinator in North Carolina to indicate your interest in participating in the meeting. Please contact: David Thigpen, USDA Rural Development, 4405 Bland Rd. Suite 260, Raleigh, NC, 27609, 919-873-2065, David.Thigpen@nc.usda.gov
We encourage you to attend this meeting to commend staff for the delivery of the program, to promote the positive benefits of REAP, and highlight some successful REAP projects in your state. Please feel free to use the talking points below in your remarks:
Key Points
Rural Energy for America Program (REAP):
· REAP is a diverse, national program that serves every ag sector in every state.
· REAP supports the full range of renewable energy options for agriculture.
· REAP improves producer margins by cutting energy consumption – and bills – with modern energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.
· REAP helps agricultural producers diversify and increase farm income with energy sales.
· REAP improves local economies through new jobs for technology development, installation, operation and maintenance.
· REAP increases America’s energy independence with homegrown energy.
· REAP benefits the public with improved environmental quality by reducing or eliminating water, air and land pollution.
· REAP provides the financial leveraging power to help rural small businesses and agricultural producers afford these commercially-proven technologies.
REAP is a popular and far over-subscribed program. Thousands of farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses have tapped into the clean energy resources on their lands and cut energy waste in their operations. Over the life of the program, the USDA has awarded over $340 million in grants and $210 million in loan guarantees to more than 7,750 projects.
REAP’s renewable energy technologies span the clean energy spectrum: wind and solar power, manure digesters, small hydroelectric power, biomass for heat and power, and even geothermal heating. REAP also funds many different energy efficiency upgrades.
Cuts to REAP via the FY12 budget process were far out of proportion to other farm programs: 47% percent cut for 2012 follows a 25% cut in 2011. Cutting REAP also reduces private investment share, reducing overall rural development. This also means higher farm production costs, fewer jobs, less renewable energy development, and more emissions.
The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) is a cornerstone of the Farm Bill’s Energy Title. It is in our national interest that farm energy programs be preserved and properly funded. Please work it into your schedule to attend this meeting and show support for the REAP. Thanks!
