By Lloyd Ritter, DWEA Policy Director

It’s August, the Hill is about to shut down for the month as members leave for summer recess and intensive campaigning. 

Here’s the latest on where our major priorities stand.

Farm Bill negotiations are still at a standstill. I don’t see the issues getting resolved until after the election or even next year. Perhaps the biggest issue for us is the lack of a renewables underutilized technology reserve in the House majority’s mark for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). Please let your House Agriculture Committee members know this is a real concern and we’d like them to rectify the issue in coming days and weeks. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) has such a provision in her REAP program Farm Bill outline, and her efforts are to be commended. She retires at year’s end, and has been a stalwart champion of ag energy for many years. 

In appropriations, the House did include DWEA’s requested $25 million for DW! This is wonderful news and a testament to both Republican and Democratic leaders in supporting rural clean energy. We don’t know just yet where the Senate will land. Stay tuned. There could be more work to do here as appropriations bills slowly move forward.

Reminder – we are still soliciting ideas from members for a DW bi-partisan marker bill to develop with friendly members on a bi-partisan basis next year. If you have ideas, please send them to me.
Stay safe with this extreme weather and thanks for your support, as always.