What Does the Farm Bill Have to do With America’s Energy Security? | Article | EESI

This op-ed argues that the 2012 Farm Bill is critical for U.S. energy security, specifically through the funding of bioenergy and rural energy efficiency programs to reduce dependence on petroleum imports.

• The author contends that the 2012 Farm Bill's energy title is essential for reducing U.S. dependence on oil, creating rural jobs, and combating climate change by investing in bioenergy produced from domestic farms and forests.
• There is a critical funding discrepancy between the Senate and House versions of the 2012 Farm Bill; the Senate version provides mandatory funding for energy programs, while the House version does not, which the author describes as a "death sentence" for these initiatives.
• U.S. energy vulnerability is highlighted by 2011 data showing that oil accounted for 93 percent of transportation system fuel and 36 percent of total primary energy consumption.
• High petroleum costs and import reliance negatively impact the U.S. economy; in 2011, the U.S. spent over $331 billion on petroleum imports, a more than 31 percent increase over 2010.
• The author identifies several specific programs necessary for the energy transition: the Biomass Research and Development and Biomass Crop Assistance Programs for feedstock production; the Biorefinery Assistance Program and Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels for commercial-scale refineries; and the Rural Energy for America Program and Community Wood Energy Programs for rural efficiency and energy shifts.

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2012). What Does the Farm Bill Have to do With America’s Energy Security? | Article | EESI. https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/eesi-op-ed

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. What Does the Farm Bill Have to do With America’s Energy Security? | Article | EESI. 2012. https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/eesi-op-ed.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=What Does the Farm Bill Have to do With America’s Energy Security? | Article | EESI |date=3 August 2012 |url=https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/eesi-op-ed |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2012what, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{What Does the Farm Bill Have to do With America’s Energy Security? | Article | EESI}}, publisher = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2012}, month = aug, url = {https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/eesi-op-ed}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }