On-Farm Energy Bill Introduced In Senate
News Date March 20, 2007
Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) has introduced legislation (S. 828) that would take an innovative new approach to boosting domestic energy production by giving farmers and ranchers incentives to produce renewable energy "on-farm." Baucus' bill would amend the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which currently gives producers incentives to do conservation work on their lands.
The On-Farm Energy Production Act is designed to help farmers and ranchers install windmills, solar panels, or biodiesel oilseed presses on their operations. The federal government would pay about 50 percent of the total costs to add renewable energy sources to the farm or ranch. Baucus said that the bill would directly benefit farmers and ranchers because they will be able to cut their energy and fuel bills. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)