USDA, NRECA seek to boost renewable energy use - Newsline

Rural Cooperatives, Jan-Feb, 2004 by Patrick Duffey

Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman has singed a memorandum of understanding between USDA and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) to identify and advance voluntary opportunities for rural electric cooperatives to partner with farmers and ranchers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The agreement emphasizes the potential for public-private cooperation in research, standards development and education in communities served by rural cooperatives. The goal is to increase the use of renewable resources to generate electricity.

NRECA will help co-ops to increase the use of renewable energy, including biomass gasification power plants, waste-to-energy systems and wind and solar power. It will continue research and development of new technologies and will explore ways to integrate renewable electricity into the grid.