Dear Farm Bill Conferee:

We the undersigned national, state, and local organizations join in urging you to adopt the provisions contained within the energy title of the Senate farm bill during conference deliberations. Adopting the energy title would help America's farmers and ranchers make energy efficiency improvements, develop their renewable energy resources, and would fund important research initiatives.

Agriculture is an energy intensive industry, and energy is a major cost to most farm operations. The energy title would help farmers make their operations more energy efficient, providing significant energy cost savings.

The title would also help farmers develop and market wind and solar power, and convert biomass into power, renewable fuels such as biodiesel and ethanol, and a variety of marketable chemicals and co-products. These new "cash crops" will provide new jobs and income streams for farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. In addition, promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy development on America's farms will also contribute to national security by lessening U.S. dependence on foreign oil, and help protect the environment by reducing the emissions of dangerous pollutants and greenhouse gases.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely (as of February 28),

ACORN

Alberton Community Coalition for Environmental Health

Alliance to Save Energy

American Bioenergy Association

American Corn Growers Association

American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy

American Farm Bureau Federation

American Wind Energy Association

Biorefiner

Bluewater Network

Bull Mountain Landowners Association

Cascade Associates

Clean Fuels Development Coalition

Climate Solutions

Community Nutrition Institute

Custer Resource Alliance

Dakota Resource Council

Dakota Rural Action

Environmental Background Information Center

Environmental and Energy Study Institute

Environmental Law and Policy Center

etc Group, Inc.

General Biomass Company

Gila Resources Information Project

Greenpeace USA

Illinois Solar Energy Association

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy

Institute for Local Self-Reliance

Illinois Student Environmental Network

Izaak Walton League of America, Midwest Office

Kettle Range Conservation Group

Montana Conservation Voters, Inc.

Montana Environmental Information Center

Minnesotans for an Energy-Efficient Economy

Minnesota Project

National Association of State Energy Officials

National Environmental Trust

National Farmers Organization

National Farmers Union

Natural Resources Defense Council

New Uses Council

Oceanic Resource Foundation

Okanogan Highlands Bottling Company

Renewable Fuels Association

Renewable Energy Action Project

RENEW Wisconsin

The Siskiyou Regional Education Project

Solar Energy Industries Association

The Stella Group, Ltd.

Union of Concerned Scientists

Ventura County Public Works Agency

Western Organization of Resource Councils

Windustry Project

World Wildlife Fund

cc: all members of congress