USDA Invests in Energy Efficiency Improvements to Help Farmers, Rural Businesses and Ag Producers Lower Energy Costs
Contact:
Weldon Freeman (202) 690-1384
Jay Fletcher (202) 690-0498
WASHINGTON, Aug. 19, 2019 – Rural Business-Cooperative Service Administrator Bette Brand today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is awarding grants for projects in all states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to reduce energy costs (PDF, 216 KB) for farmers, ag producers and rural-based businesses and institutions.
“Lowering energy costs helps rural businesses improve their bottom line and create jobs,” Brand said. “Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA is committed to increasing economic development in America’s rural communities through strong partnerships because when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”
Under today’s announcement, USDA is investing $9.3 million through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects across the nation. Congress appropriated $50 million for REAP grants and loan guarantees in fiscal year 2019. USDA will make additional funding announcements in the REAP program in coming weeks.
Recipients can use REAP funding for a variety of needs, such as conducting energy audits and installing renewable energy systems such as biomass, geothermal, hydropower and solar. Funds also can be used to make energy efficiency improvements to heating, ventilation and cooling systems; insulation; and lighting and refrigeration. Listed below are a few examples of how farmers, rural business owners and institutions are making investments in their operations through REAP.
In April 2017, President Donald J. Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January 2018, Secretary Perdue presented the Task Force’s findings to President Trump. These findings included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local and tribal governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America. Supporting the rural workforce was a cornerstone recommendation of the task force.
To view the report in its entirety, please view the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity (PDF, 5.4 MB). In addition, to view the categories of the recommendations, please view the Rural Prosperity infographic (PDF, 190 KB).
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
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Chairs of Revenue Restructure Task Force to Hold Media Availability
What:
Sen. Lyle Hillyard and Rep. Francis Gibson, co-chairs of the Utah State Legislature Tax Restructuring and Equalization Task Force, will hold media availability immediately following the conclusion of the study phase meeting on Monday, August 19 at the Utah State Capitol complex.
The public is encouraged to provide feedback and comment online at StrongerFutures.utah.gov throughout the study phase process. The meeting will be live-streamed on le.utah.gov.
Who:
Sen. Lyle Hillyard, co-chair of the Tax Restructuring and Equalization Task Force
Rep. Francis Gibson, co-chair of the Tax Restructuring and Equalization Task Force
Where:
Utah State Capitol Complex
House Building, Room 20
350 N State St.
Salt Lake City, Utah 84103
When:
Monday, August 19, 2019, at 7:30 p.m. approximate time
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Secretary Perdue Statement on Newly Appointed FNCS Leadership
(Washington, D.C., August 19, 2019) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has sworn in Brandon Lipps as Deputy Under Secretary of the Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services (FNCS) and Pam Miller as the Administrator of the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Secretary Perdue issued the following statement:
“I am excited to welcome Brandon Lipps and Pam Miller to these new roles within the Department and thank them for their hard work up to this point. Both Brandon and Pam have extensive experience in nutrition policy and have already been serving in FNCS leadership positions. I am confident they will hit the ground running and continue the great work the Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services does to feed those in need.”
Brandon Lipps, Deputy Under Secretary of
the Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services (FNCS)
Pam Miller, Administrator of the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)
Background:
Brandon Lipps has served as Administrator of the Food and Nutrition Service, and also as Acting Deputy Under Secretary of the Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services since July 2017. Before being appointed to his current position, he worked for the Texas Tech University System as the Chief of Staff and Director of Federal Affairs in the Office of Chancellor Robert Duncan. In this role, Lipps was the leading force in developing policy initiatives and strategic priorities for the Chancellor. Prior to joining the Texas Tech University System, he served as counsel and senior professional staff to the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture where he lead the nutrition policy team. Lipps also served as Chancellor Duncan’s consultant, legislative aide, and rural district director during his time as a Texas State Senator. Lipps is also a former associate at the Lubbock law firm of Crenshaw, Dupree & Milam. He hails from Woodson, Texas and graduated from Texas Tech with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics. Lipps earned his law degree from Texas Tech University School of Law.
Pam Miller has served as the USDA’s Food and Nutrition, and Consumer Services (FNCS) Senior Associate Administrator for Policy since September 2018. In this role she has worked on a wide range of policies promoting self-sufficiency, program integrity, and instilling public confidence in USDA’s oversight of the 15 nutrition programs. Prior to joining USDA, Pam worked for the U.S. House of Representatives for 20 years. During her career she was senior professional staff for the House Agriculture Committee where she helped craft three farm bills focused on nutrition and specialty crop issues. She then joined the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, serving as the lead professional staff for FNS, as well as USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service and Food Safety and Inspection Service accounts developing annual spending bills. Her experience as staff for both the Agriculture and Appropriations Committees give her a unique perspective to implementing nutrition policy at USDA. Pam grew up on a small livestock operation near Lubbock, Texas, and received her degree in Agricultural Communications from Texas Tech University.
