A Workshop for Land Owners, Farmers, Policy Makers and Concerned Citizens

On September 2nd, Sen. Michael Bennet hosted a summit on agricultural opportunities in clean energy. Attendees learned more about how proposed clean energy legislation will impact agriculture in Colorado.

The USDA, agricultural producers, scientists and economists discussed opportunities for Colorado’s farmers in clean energy legislation, and they were available to answer attendees' questions.

Featured Events

• Comments by Sen. Michael Bennet
• Welcome by Jon Scholl, President, AFT
  Presentation
• Sorting Out the Costs and Benefits of Clean Energy Legislation
  Andy Olsen, Senior Policy Advocate, Environmental Law and Policy Center
  Presentation
  Jim Pritchett, Dept. of Agriculture and Resource Economics, Colorado State University
  Presentation
• Agriculture Opportunities - Offset and Energy Panel
  Ginny Brannon, Colorado Dept. of Health and Environment
  Cindy Lair, Colorado Dept. of Agriculture
  Presentation
  Gary Teague, Anaerobic Digester Producer, Teague Diversified
  Curtis Sayles, Carbon Offset Producer
  Presentation
  Bill Midcap, Aggregator, Director of Renewable Energy Development, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union
  Presentation
  
• Complete Agenda of Events [PDF]
• Speaker Biographies [PDF]

Background Reading

Role of Agriculture Under Proposed Climate Change Legislation

• Responses to a House Draft of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 [PDF] 83.5 kB
• Myths and Facts Surrounding Climate Change Legislation [PDF] 183 kB
• Agriculture's Role in a Cap and Trade System: An AFT Video Tutorial [MOV] 51.1MB

Economic Effects of ACES on Agriculture

• Summary of Recent Cost Impact Data for ACES Act 2009 [PDF] 1.68 MB
• The Value of a Carbon Offset Market for Agriculture [PDF] 231 kB
• USDA Analysis of the Economic Effects of ACES on Agriculture [PDF] 65kB

Legislative Background

• Timeline of Significant Climate Dates
• View the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 text [PDF] 2.3MB

For more information please contact Anita Zurbrugg, Center for Agriculture in the Environment, American Farmland Trust, azurbrugg@niu.edu,  815-753-9686.