Protecting farmland, rural communities are key topics for upcoming USDA and DOE listening sessions on clean energy siting
Author

Owen Hart

Joe Jackson

Charlotte Mitchell Duyshart
Upcoming Events
Related News

Key Takeaways
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will host a series of four listening sessions throughout January 2024. During these listening sessions, local stakeholders are invited to share perspectives on the benefits and challenges related to clean energy project siting and its impact on agricultural lands and rural communities.
Here's why it is crucial for county leaders to make their voice heard:
- Following historic federal investments through the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment in Jobs Act, a record level of clean energy projects has been proposed and many are under construction in rural areas across the country, including on agricultural land.
- The deployment of clean energy is crucial for improving domestic energy security and rural economic development. However, if implemented without feedback from county leaders, concerns regarding diminished property values, loss of vital farmland and deterioration of the rural character could become a reality.
- There is no one-size-fits-all approach to clean energy siting, as each community has unique factors that must be considered during the implementation process.
- Preserving local decision-making is crucial to ensuring the clean energy deployment minimizes harm to the environment and working lands and maximizes benefits for communities.
Each listening session is geared toward a specific stakeholder group:
- Government permitting and policy representatives at the state, county and local level are invited to attend a session on January 12, from 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST. Register here.
- Agricultural producers are invited to attend on January 16, from 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. EST. Register here.
- All stakeholders and members of the public are invited to attend on January 16, from 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. EST. Register here.
- Rural stakeholders and clean energy developers on January 17, from 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. EST. Register here.
These sessions will provide a valuable opportunity for county leaders and other stakeholders to communicate their thoughts on clean energy siting challenges to our federal partners.
Counties applaud USDA and DOE efforts to engage local leadership because:
- Counties support the recognition and incorporation of the county perspective on clean energy siting.
- Counties support comprehensive efforts to encourage and enable American agriculture to provide energy to the United States while continuing to produce abundant, safe and affordable food and fiber.
- State and federal entities must continue to partner with counties to implement locally led strategies for the conservation and use of natural resources.
Related News

U.S. Department of Agriculture announces reorganization
On July 24, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced a major reorganization of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that will relocate thousands of federal employees, restructure regional offices and consolidate administrative services and operations. The changes are expected to reduce USDA’s footprint in Washington, D.C. and shift more personnel to regional hubs across the country.
Eastern Tennessee counties collaborate on nuclear energy ambitions
Decades after the Manhattan Project, cooperation among Roane, Anderson and Knox counties in Tennessee drives toward a high profile for nuclear power.

EPA releases proposal to repeal 2009 greenhouse gas endangerment finding
On July 29, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a proposal to rescind the 2009 endangerment finding. Following the announcement from EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) published a supporting report—A Critical Review of Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Emissions on the U.S. Climate.