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:- Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Pro rg ams Secretary Johanns recently announced a comprehensive energy strategy to help farmers and ranchers mitigate the impact of high energy costs and develop long-term solutions. At the same time he announced the formation of the USDA Energy Council to examine departmental programs and authorities, ensuring they fit into a comprehensive energy strategy. The Council will also ensure agricultural producers have a place at the table for national energy discussions and play a key role in the President's Advanced Energy Initiative. The new Energy Council will coordinate implementation of USDA's energy strategy and partner with the U.S. Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency and others in an effort to achieve the Renewable Fuels Standard set by the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The standard requires an annual usage rate of 7.5 billion gallons of renewable fuel by 2012. The President has called for tax incentives totaling $4.1 billion through 2009 to spur the use of clean, renewable energy, and energy-efficient technologies, including biomass. Key USDA Renewable Energy Accomplishments: • During the Bush Administrations, USDA's Rural Development has invested nearly $185 million in bioenergy and biomass projects through its business and utility programs. • In FY 2005, USDA Rural Development, with the support of the Department of Energy, selected 150 applicants from 32 states for the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Improvement grant program (Section 9006 of the 2002 Farm Bill) to receive $21 million dollars in grant funds. These funds help to reduce energy costs and increase opportunities for rural businesses, farmers and ranchers. Grant awards supported a wide range of wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, and conservation technologies. • In FY 2006, USDA plans to provide $60 million for purchases of additional • commodities to expand bioenergy production under Section 9010 of the 2002 Farm Bill, and, with the Department of Energy, made awards of over $15.6 million under the Biomass R&D program under Section 9008. In FY 2006, USDA also designated the first bioproducts for preferred procurement by Federal agencies under Section 9002, and USDA continued the national educational program on the use of biodiesel fuel under Section 9004. More information about USDA's energy strategy is available at www.usda.gov/energy including a USDA Energy Fact Sheet, the Energy Calculator, and details of USDA's energy-related loan and grant programs. :- Improvinq Drinkinq Water Quality Since 2001, more than $7.8 billion was provided in loans or grants to rural communities to assist with community water and wastewater infrastructure. Many of the communities receiving the funding are struggling to address environmental concems brought on by improper treatment of sewage or unsafe or unreliable water, and many are among our nation's poorest rural communities. In total, in FY 2001-05, more than 4,500 rural water or wastewater systems have been assisted benefiting more than 12 million rural residents. FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT WWW.USDA.GOV