The committee voted to increase fiscal year 2010 funding for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) from $60 million to $128 million.

The REAP program helps farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses build their own clean energy projects. REAP provides grant and loan guarantee assistance for a broad range of clean energy technologies, including biomass, manure digesters, wind and solar power, and energy efficiency.

For more information about the REAP program, go to: REAPS

The bill also continues the emphasis on the research and development of advanced and cellulosic bioenergy authorized in the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act (P.L. 110-140).

Two brief reports (as pdf downloads) can be found at the Farm Energy News web site (at the top of the Publications page). Click here  . . .

Also, you can submit an on-line petition by going to the Union of Concerned Scientists’ Action Center web page. Click here . . .

These energy efficiency savings are more than the entire current energy use of the state of California, and are larger than the annual energy use of 49 of the 50 states.

The analysis examines the energy efficiency provisions in the “discussion draft” of the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACESA), authored by Representatives Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Ed Markey (D-MA). Read more (scroll down towards middle  of page)  . . .

The current blend rate is set at about 10 percent.  The public comment period will be open for 30 days.  By law, the EPA must make a decision by December 1, 2009.

Growth Energy and 54 ethanol producers submitted the application to increase the blend rate on March 6, 2009.  Ethanol proponents argue that increasing the blend rate is needed to keep pace with the renewable fuel mandates under the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act and to assure continued investment in bringing next generation biofuels to market.

The law requires 11.1 billion gallons of renewable fuel (mainly ethanol) to be blended in 2009, 12.95 billion in 2010, 13.95 billion in 2011, rising steadily to 36 billion gallons by 2022.

With reduced liquid fuel demand due to the recession, ethanol producers are concerned that the market will soon reach a blend wall at the 10 percent blend rate, a point at which the liquid fuel market is saturated below the mandated ethanol production level.

Many environmental and consumer groups and small engine and car manufacturers are concerned that the increased blend rate might damage pollution control equipment, reduce air quality, and undermine vehicle and equipment performance and warrantees.

The EPA and Department of Energy are currently testing the effects of higher blend rates on engine performance and emissions.

For more information, go to EPA Registration and Health Effects Testing.

In the House, Representatives Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Ed Markey (D-MA) released a “discussion draft” of energy and climate change legislation that contains many energy efficiency provisions. In the Senate, the Energy Committee approved four bills with energy efficiency components, including several amendments.

The House bill, called the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACESA), includes a cap and trade system to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, and a variety of energy efficiency provisions. More details can be found in a press release from the The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). Read . . .

The House Committee on Agriculture is gathering information to help Members better understand the options available –– especially as they relate to agriculture and forestry. Most of the current legislative proposals would not require emission reductions in the agriculture and forestry sectors, but various proposals would allow producers to receive emission allowances to generate carbon offsets which could be sold under a cap and trade program.

Depending on how it is constructed, agriculture producers and forest landowners may benefit from a carbon reduction program, and it is important Members understand the various approaches.