FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
November 9, 2005
Washington, D.C.-- Energy efficiency and conservation are
the best near-term responses to surging energy prices in the agricultural
sector, testified Dr. Neal Elliott, ACEEE's Industrial and Agricultural
Program Director, at today's U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee hearing
on agricultural transportation and energy issues. Supply solutions
such as expanded oil or gas drilling, new pipelines, new refiners,
or additional imports all will take years to ease tight energy markets.
Energy efficiency and conservation can be tapped now and are also
a sound economic investment.
"We know how to achieve significant energy savings in the ag sector,
based on decades of program experience," said Dr. Elliott. "We need
to re-apply these lessons to today's rural energy challenges."
ACEEE research has shown that the rural community can tap a strong
and expert energy efficiency network, including the land-grant universities,
the extension service, and their partners in the agricultural community.
This network quickly gets new technology and practices into the
hands of the farmers and ranchers who need them.
"Rural communities are eager for the good news efficiency and
conservation can bring them," said Glee Murray, ACEEE's Communications
Director. "Talking with farmers and ranchers as we plan our upcoming
Forum on Energy Efficiency in Agriculture, I repeatedly hear
a hunger for practical solutions to their high energy costs." The
Forum on Energy Efficiency in Agriculture will be held November
14–16 in Des Moines, Iowa, co-sponsored by the U.S. Departments
of Energy and Agriculture, Iowa Energy Center, and Iowa State University
Extension, among others. Details can be found at http://aceee.org/conf/af05/af05index.htm.
The agricultural sector is one of the most energy intensive in
the U.S. economy, not only due to the energy used directly on farms
and ranches, but also because of energy-intensive inputs such as
fertilizer, other agricultural chemicals, and animal feed. In addition,
large amounts of fuel are used to ship materials to the farm and
agricultural products to markets.
Among the energy efficiency steps farmers can take are low-energy
farming practices such as low-till/no-till, irrigation management,
and improved livestock lighting and ventilation. Combined with the
purchase of more efficient trucks and equipment, farmers can save
significant energy costs while reducing their future exposure to
volatile energy prices.
"The priority right now is to spread awareness of energy efficiency
and conservation opportunities in the farm community," said Dr.
Elliott. "We need to mobilize the agricultural educational network
to deliver the message."
"ACEEE believes that the federal government should show more leadership
in responding to the energy crisis facing the agricultural sector,"
said Steven Nadel, ACEEE's Executive Director. ACEEE recommends
that Congress take the following immediate steps to rebuild the
agricultural sector's educational and implementation infrastructure,
including:
