Sen. Brown Announces Support for Initiative to Empower Ohio Farmers in Clean Energy Economy

WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. – Today U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), chair of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Food, Nutrition, and Family Farms, today announced his support for a new initiative that would empower Ohio farmers to reduce carbon emissions through a voluntary carbon offset program. The Clean Energy Partnership Act, originally introduced by Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and supported by Sens. Max Baucus (D-MT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Mark Begich (D-AK), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), would establish a credit system for farmers engaged in conservation efforts by farmers and landowners.

“Ohio farmers are key stakeholders in making clean energy legislation work to create jobs and reduce our carbon footprint,” Brown said. “This legislation joins our nation’s agriculture and manufacturing sectors in a dynamic partnership to help bring about our energy independence.”

The Clean Energy Partnership Act “offsets” the use of fossil fuels by investing in practices like sustainable agriculture and forestry projects that capture and store carbon. The initiative is supported by the Ohio Corn Growers Association, and the Ohio Farmers Union, and.

“Senator Brown has been working on behalf of Ohio agriculture from the day he took office and Ohioans should be thankful,” Ohio Corn Growers Association’s President John Davis said. “His work to ensure a positive role for agriculture in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by strengthening opportunities that allow farmers to participate in offset programs is a step in the right direction.”

“We support the Senator’s introduction of the Clean Energy Partnership Act and all legislation that offers opportunities for farmers and ranchers to be a part of the climate change solution”, said Roger Wise, President of the Ohio Farmers Union.

Brown is the first Ohioan to serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee in more than 40 years. He is a leading advocate in Congress for developing clean energy initiatives to create jobs and invest in the competitiveness of Ohio’s agriculture and manufacturing sectors. This year, Brown has held three groundbreaking clean energy summits in Ohio, connecting business leaders, manufacturers, and farmers with federal energy officials.

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