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USDA opens comments on rural renewable energy pilot

The USDA is accepting public input on a new Rural Renewable Energy Pilot Program this month.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 provided USDA with $10 million for the program which will offer assistance to rural communities developing renewable energy.

Cofounder of Fairlife and Select Milk Producers Dr. Mike McCloskey, who testified before Congress recently on how more support is needed for the biogas sector, says investment will help perfect renewable energy technology and carbon reduction efforts to scale up its adoption.

“We have to create technologies and systems and processes that are going to benefit productivity and the bottom line to dairy farmers,” he says.

He tells Brownfield the dairy industry is collaborating with other animal protein sectors to expand their Net Zero Initiative tackling carbon emissions at the farm level along with a focus on renewable energy.

“We have collaboration, we have many joint efforts going on now, it’s very exciting,” he says.  “I think everyone is headed this way, everyone understands the value.”

McCloskey was a featured speaker this week on a Real Science lecture focusing on the dairy industry’s execution of their Net Zero Initiative.

USDA will be accepting comments until April 29 and a public listening session is set for April 22.