The Agriculture Energy Coalitions efforts to preserve and fund the energy title programs are supported by more than 200 renewable energy and energy efficiency trade associations and companies.

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, the Agriculture Energy Coalition sent a letter to the House of Representatives, opposing the House farm bills elimination of a stand-alone energy title and exclusion of mandatory funding for energy programs. The House of Representatives is expected to begin floor debate of the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (H.R. 2) soon. The Agriculture Energy Coalitions efforts to preserve and fund the energy title programs are supported by more than 200 renewable energy and energy efficiency trade associations and companies.

The letter states, in part:

"The Coalition stands with the farmers, ranchers, rural small businesses and countless others that rely on good farm and nutrition policy. Farm country is hurting right now, and we urge Congress to meet its obligations to support a strong agricultural economy. Successful energy and sustainability programs must be funded and prioritized along with the other core elements of the farm bill. The lack of an energy title will have a chilling effect on private sector investment in renewable energy, new technologies, and innovative manufacturing in rural communities."

"The bipartisan energy title must be reinstated, with mandatory funding for key programs. The federal investment is minimal, less than 1 percent of total farm bill spending, yet incentivizes hundreds of thousands of jobs, new manufacturing, technology innovation and a cleaner, healthier America. More than 1.5 million U.S. workers manufacture biobased products, generating over $127 billion in annual economic activity."

A full copy of the letter is available on the Ag Energy Coalition website, at http://agenergycoalition.org/.