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House Ag Committee considers farm bill energy programs

The House Ag Committee continues to review 2018 Farm Bill programs to prepare for the next farm bill.

Chairman David Scott outlined the need for mandatory spending in Energy Title programs during a hearing this morning.

“Following the creation of the Energy Title in the 2002 Farm Bill, each farm bill after that has cut mandatory spending available for the title,” he says. “Only 20 percent of the funding for Energy Title programs was mandatory in our most recent farm bill….and this is a significant problem since many of our energy title programs ultimately have not received any discretionary appropriations.”

In the next farm bill, he says “we need to consider what the needs are for our agriculture and forestry sectors as well as our rural small businesses in terms of their potential role in producing renewable energy. We also know that there is a tremendous interest from rural areas in undertaking energy efficiency efforts to help their bottom lines.”

Ranking Member Glenn GT Thompson says “as we continue to build and improve our nation’s electric gird, expand access to energy and deploy smart and renewable resources on farms and in communities, the USDA energy programs continue to bring new opportunities and economic growth to rural America.”

USDA Undersecretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres Small testified during the hearing.

“I look forward to working with all you to incentive more innovation and support the rural people who power our country, who create good jobs in their communities, and who increase the security and resiliency of our energy economy,” she says.

Torres Small was accompanied by USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service Administrator Karama Neal and USDA Rural Utilities Service Acting Administrator Chris McClean. A second panel consisted of Andy Olsen, senior policy advocate for the Environmental Law and Policy Center; Bill Cherrier, executive vice president and CEO of the Central Iowa Power Cooperative on behalf of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association; Patrick Gruber, CEO of Gevo Inc.; and Jay McKenna, CEO of Nacero.