Sustainable Bioenergy, Farms, and Forests - January 31, 2014 | Newsletter

A weekly look at sustainable bioenergy, farm, and forest policy issues

January 31, 2014

Farm Bill Conference Report Approved by House, Senate Vote Early Next Week

On Wednesday, January 29, the House of Representatives approved the conference report for the new five-year farm bill, the Agricultural Act of 2014, by a wide margin. The Senate is scheduled to hold an initial vote on the nearly 1,000-page farm bill conference report on Monday evening, February 3. It is anticipated that final action could be taken by Wednesday, February 5, with the bill then being sent to the President for signature if the Senate approves the conference report.

Rural Energy Savings Program Included in Farm Bill

The Agricultural Act of 2014 includes language to create the Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP) within USDA's Rural Utility Service. RESP will provide zero percent loans to rural electric cooperatives for the purpose of relending the funds to co-op members to make energy efficiency improvements.

The Renewable Fuel Standard: Reducing Our Dependence on Unhealthy Petroleum

The Energy Policy Act of 2005, and its Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), requires the blending of alternative fuels into our transportation fuels which helps reduce exposure to toxic aromatics. Not only does the full volumetric requirement of the RFS support complementary EPA policies, it helps to protect the health and safety of humans in the environment. However, last November, for the first time since the RFS was signed into law in 2005, the EPA proposed lowering the renewable volume obligations (RVOs), from 18.15 billion gallons to 15.21 billion gallons.

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