Prospectus for an Agricultural Energy Efficiency Program Network

In recent years, ACEEE has been active in reinvigorating interest in energy issues relating to agriculture. We supported the Senate Agriculture Committee in crafting the energy titles of the 2002 and 2008 Farm Bills, helping to ensure that energy efficiency stipulations were included. In order to expand the dialogue about the role of energy efficiency in agriculture, ACEEE has organized two conferences exploring this subject, one in 2005 and another in 2008. The "Forum on Energy Efficiency in Agriculture," or "Ag Forum," has been a successful way of bringing together a diverse group of participants—in some cases, groups without prior relationships—to raise awareness, share information, form new collaborations and establish new visions regarding policy and program opportunities to increase energy efficiency on farms and ranches, and in rural communities. The conferences focused on advancing programs and policies that can help the agricultural community realize the benefits of more efficient energy use in agricultural operations and processes, as well as issues related to increasing the sustainability of the agricultural sector.