Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008

The Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 governs the majority of Federal agriculture and related programmes for the next 5 years, including rural energy efficiency initiatives, and initiatives to encourage the production and use of agricultural and renewable energy sources. For energy efficiency and renewable energy programmes, the Act clarifies that loans can be made for energy efficiency purposes and redefines eligible renewable energy sources, including wind, hydropower, solar and geothrmal. It authorizes deferment of principal and interest payments on existing loans so that borrowers can make loans to residential, commercial, and industrial consumers to install energy-efficient measures or devices that reduce demand on electric systems for 60 months. It also allows for various loans for renewable energy generation. The 2008 Act also mandates a study on electric power generation needs of rural areas, looking at rural electric cooperatives issues, financing issues, impact of electricity costs on consumers and local economic development, and ability of fuel feedstock technology to meet regulatory requirements, such as carbon capture and sequestration.

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