Alliance Applauds Growing More Food with Less Energy
Bipartisan Conrad-Lugar Amendment Improves Farm Bill
The Alliance to Save Energy is urging the House and Senate to embrace bipartisan energy efficiency measures in a Conrad-Lugar 2012 farm bill amendment that will save farmers and rural Americans energy and money. The Senate Agriculture Committee passed the amendment on a voice vote during Thursday’s markup of the farm bill.
“The Conrad-Lugar Amendment will allow many rural Americans to tap into the power of energy efficiency to help grow food, build a business or raise a family. With more financial support for energy efficiency, rural America will be stronger, and so will our nation as a whole,” said Alliance to Save Energy President Kateri Callahan.
“This is another instance where energy efficiency brings together common sense and bipartisanship,” continued Callahan. “Honorary Alliance Board Vice Chair Sen. Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) and Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) worked together to advance this package, which is now part of the farm bill.”
The amendment includes the Rural Energy Saving Program Act from Sens. Lugar and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.). It helps rural Americans, farmers and small business owners make energy efficiency upgrades to their homes, farms and businesses with the help of low-interest loans.
Funding for Guaranteed Loan and Grant Program
The amendment also provides $48.2 million annually for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), a guaranteed loan and grant program that helps rural Americans make renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements. Since 2009, more than 4,000 energy efficiency projects have been funded through REAP.
In all, the Conrad-Lugar amendment includes a total of $800 million over five years for rural energy and was paid for by reductions in other portions of the Farm Bill.
Media Contacts
- Ronnie Kweller: 202-530-2203; rkweller@ase.org
- Monique O’Grady: 202-530-2217; mogrady@ase.org
