USDA Public Meeting on Implementation of Farm Bill Energy Title

For Immediate Release: August 27, 2008
For More Information Contact: Jesse Caputo (202) 662-1882

On August 26, 2008, the USDA Rural Business Cooperative Service announced a public meeting on September 4 to gather input, comments, and suggestions regarding the implementation of new authorizations under Title IX (Energy) of the recently passed Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008. The meeting, entitled “Expanding  Rural Renewable Energy Opportunities – Inviting a Dialogue with the Public on the new authorities of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-234)”, will focus on implementation of a number of new programs, including Biorefinery Assistance (Sec. 9003), Repowering Assistance (Sec. 9004), Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels (Sec. 9005), Rural Energy for America Program (Sec. 9007), Rural Energy Self-Sufficiency Initiative (Sec. 9009), Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) (Sec. 9011), Forest Biomass for Energy (Sec. 9012), and the Community Woody Energy Program (Sec. 9013).

The meeting will be held in the Jefferson Auditorium, South Agriculture Building, between 8:30 am and 4 pm EST. Presentations will be limited to no more than 10 minutes in duration. To participate, please see the notice in the federal register or contact Robin Robinson at 202.690.4730 or [email protected]. In addition to providing an oral statement at the meeting (10 minutes or less), written comments can be submitted.