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NCFC President discusses ag's role in a reduced carbon economyJean-Mari Peltier, President and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives discussed the role that forestry and agriculture can play in a reduced carbon economy and how these industries can be part of the solution to addressing global climate change during a speech recently at the 4th National 25x'25 Renewable Energy Summit, held here in Omaha, Neb. "The agricultural industry has a real opportunity to make a positive impact on a reduced carbon economy, and benefit financially while doing this," said Peltier. "At the same time, the industry needs to be vigilant to ensure that we are maximizing opportunities for US producers under any new legislative, regulatory or market-based initiatives; in particular, it is important for agriculture to emphasize the role that perennial crops, such as fruit trees, grape vines and the like, play in the carbon sequestration process." Peltier pointed out that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the agricultural and forestry sectors have the potential to sequester as much as 25 percent of the nation's greenhouse gas emissions; in addition, she noted, the U.S. Department of Agriculture suggests that agriculture and forestry could sequester an additional 40 to 590 million metric tons of GHG per year. These opportunities include both soil sequestration of carbon and the use of methane capture in animal agriculture operations. Peltier pointed out that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the agricultural and forestry sectors have the potential to sequester as much as 25 percent of the nation's greenhouse gas emissions; in addition, she noted, the U.S. Department of Agriculture suggests that agriculture and forestry could sequester an additional 40 to 590 million metric tons of GHG per year. These opportunities include both soil sequestration of carbon and the use of methane capture in animal agriculture operations. "Agriculture's ability to fulfill this promise is contingent on the price for carbon in the marketplace," Peltier continued. "Currently, carbon is only trading for around $4 per ton; new laws and regulations being discussed, however, could result in dramatic increases in the value of carbon, leading to greater potential benefit to agricultural producers." NCFC has developed a program of information briefings for its farmer-owned cooperative members to explore some of the same challenges and opportunities that Peltier outlined in her speech. The speech came a week after NCFC meet with representatives from the EPA's Climate Change Division to discuss EPA's plans for reporting rules on emissions of GHG, as mandated by an amendment to the FY 2008 Consolidated Appropriations bill. The Renewable Energy Summit at which Peltier spoke is hosted by the 25x'25 Coalition to further the goal of meeting 25 percent of the nation's energy needs with renewable resources--biomass, biofuels, wind, solar power, geothermal energy, and hydropower--by the year 2025. 3/31/08 Date: 3/21/08 Advertisement
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