As hearings on the 2023 Farm Bill begin, a push is on to ensure biodiversity is part of the conversation. A Senate hearing on the bill's conservation and forestry programs was held on Wednesday.

According to Defenders of Wildlife, more than 70% of species listed under the Endangered Species Act rely on private lands, and more than 40 % of private land in the lower 48 states is managed for agriculture.

Mary Pfaffko, senior private lands policy analyst, Defenders of Wildlife, said the bill is an opportunity to combat the linked issues of biodiversity loss and climate change.

"Farmers, ranchers and producers play a critical role in conserving our nation's wildlife," Pfaffko pointed out. "With so many of our nation's imperiled species occurring on private lands, depending on private lands, they depend on this Farm Bill."

Pfaffko noted Defenders of Wildlife's recommendations for the Farm Bill include incentivizing projects with co-benefits for climate and wildlife and providing national-level funding for all Working Lands for Wildlife initiatives.

Kristine Akland, the Missoula-based Northern Rockies senior attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity, said the last farm bill also included exclusions for some timber sales from analyses on their environmental impact. She stressed taking away the exclusion would help protect some of Montana's diverse habitats.

"That allows the public to be involved in that process to ensure that these projects aren't completely, irreparably damaging the important ecosystems in the Northern Rockies but also, really, across the country," Akland explained.

The current Farm Bill from 2018 expires Sept. 30.

New funding from the federal Empowering Rural America program will allow the East Kentucky Power Cooperative to add more than 750 megawatts of solar energy to rural portions of Kentucky.

Co-op officials are currently seeking regulatory approval for a pair of solar installations in Fayette County, which would generate renewable energy for co-op members.

Nick Comer, external affairs manager for the co-op, said the project will cut emissions from the grid equivalent to the annual pollution from 554,000 gasoline-powered cars.

"Solar facilities will produce electricity when the sun is shining; that's no associated greenhouse gas emissions," Comer pointed out. "We estimate this will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 3 million tons annually."

The co-op will receive additional funding in the form of tax credits on top of the $1.4 billion from the U.S. Department of Agriculture-sponsored program. The East Kentucky Power Cooperative generates electricity for 16 power distribution cooperatives across the state.

The project has generated some controversy, as some Kentucky agriculture advocates claim building the solar farms on 400 acres of prime agricultural land would not be the best use of the resource. Comer countered the installation will not harm the land long-term.

"It will have minimal impact on the land," Comer explained. "Once the solar facility has been used for 20 or 30 years and is no longer used for that, it could be returned to agricultural purposes at that point."

The funding is part of a $7.3 billion USDA program made available through the Inflation Reduction Act. The program specifically targets rural member-owned electric cooperatives in a move to eliminate greenhouse gasses produced by burning coal and natural gas contributing to climate change.


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As people head to the polls tomorrow, groups are working to ensure Georgia's Black and brown communities understand the energy saving benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act.

The Payback Campaign is a public awareness initiative led by creative firm AB and supported by Georgia Interfaith Power and Light. It is helping educate congregations and communities on Inflation Reduction Act incentives, including solar energy tax credits to lower utility costs, reduce carbon emissions and build resilience.

Jay Horton, communications manager for Georgia Interfaith Power and Light, explained access to resources is especially meaningful for congregations in underserved areas.

"One of the main advantages of the Inflation Reduction Act was that congregations and faith communities, houses of worship, can now benefit from the tax credits available for solar and battery storage," Horton explained. "Especially low wealth communities."

The group helps congregations with low-cost solar assessments, connections to vetted installers, and a zero-interest loan through its Solar Wise program. To date, the initiative has completed 23 installations in Georgia, totaling 540 kilowatts and offsetting more than 3,200 metric tons of carbon emissions annually.

Horton pointed out Georgia power bills will increase by an average of $44 over two years and solar installations can help mitigate rising energy costs. Beyond saving money, he noted solar power also reduces reliance on fossil fuels, leading to cleaner air and a smaller carbon footprint. He added congregations would be able to redirect the savings into community services, all while making a positive environmental impact.

"For example, Trinity Episcopal Church in Statesboro, they had a 30-kilowatt system through the Georgia Bright program but their utility bill savings over next 20 years, $196,000, net savings of $60,000," Horton outlined. "That's equivalent to 705 tons of CO2 offset. "

He emphasized the offset is equivalent to 1.5 million miles driven in a car, or 10,000 trees planted. The Payback Campaign also highlighted how environmental and economic benefits can inform voter choices, encouraging support for leaders who prioritize clean energy initiatives.


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On this year's California ballot, Proposition 4 has not received much attention but it could have a huge effect on the Golden State.

The $10 billion bond measure would be the largest conservation investment in state history. Opponents argued the state cannot afford to take on billions more dollars in debt.

Pamela Flick, California program director for the nonprofit Defenders of Wildlife, said the measure would be an effective way to address some of California's biggest problems.

"California faces devastating wildfires, vulnerable drinking water supplies, extreme summer heat and other major threats from a changing climate," Flick pointed out. "Proposition 4 tackles our most urgent climate needs today, before the damage becomes too costly and unimaginable."

Prop 4 would dedicate $3.8 billion for ensuring drinking water and increasing water supplies. It earmarks $1.5 billion for wildfire prevention, $1.2 billion to protect important wildlife habitat, and $1.2 billion to protect the coastline and prepare for rising sea levels. The rest of the money would go toward energy infrastructure, parks and programs to help farmers combat extreme heat.

Flick acknowledged California's ecosystems have evolved with fire for millennia but a series of megafires over the past decade have devastated some forest ecosystems.

"Severe fires pose the biggest impact to wildlife and its habitat," Flick asserted. "Because it's so much harder for those areas that were burned severely to bounce back and provide important habitat for species."

The heightened wildfire risk in California has already led some insurance companies to raise rates steeply or stop insuring homes altogether in certain areas. Backers said Prop 4 is an important step to protect the value of people's homes.