(Continued from page 5)

(REAP).  These new projects will help producers and businesses boost their bottom line, while increasing America's energy security and protecting our environment.
• Energy efficiency programs are a key part of the President's overall plan to mitigate the impacts of a changing climate, while building our renewable energy capacity to support an all-of-the-above approach to America's energy future.
• Under the Obama Administration, USDA has used this program to support more than 7,000 energy efficiency projects. Many of these provided assistance on small and medium-sized farm and ranches, or in rural businesses.
• For example, USDA is providing a grant to a producer in Oklahoma who will leverage significant outside investment to install two 100kW wind turbines. A grant in Washington will enable an orchard owner to install a solar hot water washing tank to clean apples for market. And in Wisconsin, REAP will help a producer install an anaerobic digester that will create more than 4.8 million kWh of electricity a year while boosting environmental quality.
• This program is a very good example of why Congress must achieve passage of a comprehensive, multi-year Food, Farm and Jobs Bill as soon as possible.
• In January, Congress provided an extension of some 2008 Farm Bill programs when there was no Congressional passage of a comprehensive Food, Farm and Jobs Bill.  Now, in just a few weeks, that extension will expire - once again leaving rural America without access to Farm Bill programs.
• USDA relies on the Farm Bill to carry out the Rural Energy for America Program and many other important efforts. Without a comprehensive Food, Farm and Jobs Bill, rural America will be without energy efficiency programs. America's farmers and ranchers will be without a strong safety net and important conservation programs. We will lack trade programs to promote U.S. products, and the ability to invest in strong agricultural research. These are just a few of many examples.
• This is too important for Congress to kick the can down the road with another short-term extension. We need the certainty of a comprehensive, long-term Food, Farm and Jobs Bill. USDA and folks across rural America are counting on Congress to advance this legislation as soon as possible.