The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) are spending large sums of money to support the development of “clean energy” projects in agricultural and rural areas. The USDA and DOE are aware of the conflicts and divisions this is creating among those wanting these projects in their community or on their farm, and those that do not. While USDA and DOE have no plans to change course and no longer work to advance these projects, they will host a series of virtual listening sessions this winter to:

• Inform people about the USDA and DOE programs;
• Guide their efforts to advance these projects while addressing regional and local siting challenges, and
• Encourage outcomes that benefit farmers, rural Americans, the renewable energy industry and others.

Anyone may participate in the virtual public listening sessions, although the information provided in each session will be geared toward a specific set of stakeholders. Interested parties must register in advance to participate.  Click the relevant date and time to start the registration process:

• Government permitting and policy representatives at state, county, and local levels on Jan. 12, 2024, at 12:30 – 2 p.m. ET Government Permitting and Policy Representatives, Register Here
• Agricultural producers on Jan. 16, 2024, at 10 – 11:30 a.m. ET. Agricultural Producers, Register Here
• All stakeholders and members of the public on Jan. 16, 2024, at 2:30 – 4 p.m. ET. All Stakeholders, Register Here
• Rural electric co-ops and clean energy developers on Jan. 17, 2024, at 3 - 4:30 p.m. ET. All Stakeholders, Register Here

Written comments also may be submitted by Jan. 20, 2024, to CleanEnergySiting@USDA.gov.

Questions about these listening sessions or the USDA-DOE clean energy programming should be directed to Lauren Lurkins or Tom Hebert.