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USDA Announces Agreement to Encourage Alternative Energy

Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today signed a Memorandum of
Understanding between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National
Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) http://www.nreca.org/ to identify and advance
cost-effective, voluntary opportunities for rural electric cooperatives
to partner with farmers and ranchers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

by Julianne Johnston (Thanks to Gayle Shirley for passing this along- Russ)

The agreement is part of USDA’s efforts to implement President Bush’s
strategy to reduce America’s greenhouse gas intensity – the ratio of
emissions to economic output – 18 percent by 2012.

Secretary Veneman and NRECA Chief Executive Officer Glenn English signed
the MOU, which emphasizes the potential for taking actions in the
communities served by rural cooperatives. It identifies areas for
public-private cooperation in research, standards development, and
education and it will, by removing technical and market barriers, help
increase the use of renewable resources to generate electricity.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development supports the
financing of renewable energy systems, and the Bush Administration made
$200 million available in loans for this purpose in FY2003. This
agreement extends that venture to include USDA research to develop
promising new, emission-efficient and renewable energy technologies.
Together with NRECA, USDA will jointly pursue education and outreach
efforts, including workshops and programs to ensure that farmers and
industry understand the latest research.

NRECA will assist member utilities in increasing the use of renewable energy
including biomass gasification power plants, waste-to-energy systems, and
wind and solar power. NRECA will continue research and development of new
technologies and will also explore innovative approaches for integrating
renewable electricity to the grid.

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