Rural electric co-ops to get $10.7B in USDA funds for clean energy grants, loans - Virginia Mercury

[mahatmakanejeeves]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is beginning to administer nearly $11 billion of loans and grants through programs aimed at boosting renewable energy in rural areas.

virginiamercury.com
Rural electric co-ops to get $10.7B in USDA funds for clean energy grants, loans - Virginia Mercury
The USDA is beginning to administer two loan and grant programs worth nearly $11 billion to boost clean energy systems in rural areas.

Link to tweet

[NNadir]

1. The problem with this is that the popular opinion about what "clean energy" might be is delusional.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

2. Good morning. When I have the time, I'll try to dig up some links at USDA.

The reason that this is being done by USDA and not DOE is that the Rural Electrification Administration is a part of USDA.

[Finishline42]

3. Hopefully, they work on funding

Especially in arid areas where solar provides shade from too much sun.

Solar could also extend the season for cool weather crops.


Agrivoltaic farming is the practice of growing crops underneath solar panels.

Scientific studies show some crops thrive when grown in this way.

Doubling up on land use in this way could help feed the world’s growing population while also providing sustainable energy.


https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/07/agrivoltaic-farming-solar-energy/

[NNadir]

4. Actually, if we were concerned about agriculture, we'd do something about climate change.

Leaving solar junk out in agricultural land to rot 20 years after money is wasted installing it will do nothing to address climate change. It will merely create an electronic waste problem in the source of the food supply.

Solar energy continues to be useless in addressing climate change and coming up with even more ridiculous fantasies in connection with it will make things only worse.