Federal legislation to boost renewable energy production and address global climate change is slowly making its way through Congress. This, as well as future legislation to address energy and climate issues, is profoundly important to farmers, ranchers and rural people.

Consider the following.

Federal incentives to boost renewable energy development will help shape a new energy economy. Depending on the nature of the incentives, the economic benefits of renewable energy may accrue to only those wealthy enough to invest in very large development projects. Or incentives can be designed to foster widespread ownership and community benefit of renewable energy development. Now is the time to advocate for policy that will create real opportunity for family farmers and ranchers and rural people of modest means.

Federal initiatives to address climate change are also critical to the future of our communities. The atmospheric level of CO2 has already reached a level above which climate scientists predict continued instability in weather patterns with negative consequence for farmers and ranchers who depend on predictable weather patterns. With effective action, the trend can still be reversed.

Initiatives to address climate change can offer direct benefits for both rural communities and farmers and ranchers. Programs to increase energy efficiency create jobs in rural communities while lowering the monthly utility bill of rural residents. Farmers and ranchers could also benefit from carefully crafted agriculture practices that reduce carbon usage or capture carbon in a measurable and verifiable way.

Enacting renewable energy and climate legislation that creates a sustainable future for rural communities will require the active engagement of rural people in the legislative and advocacy process. If you are passionate about these issues, please get in touch.

To get involved: contact Brian Depew at briand@cfra.org or 402.687.2100.