The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture has proposed budget cuts for clean energy programs, including the Rural Energy for America Program and the new Empowering Rural America and Powering Affordable Clean Energy programs. “This puts a lot of really critical energy development opportunities for Rural America at risk,” explained Erik Hatlestad, director, Clean Up the River Environment Energy Democracy Program. Hatlestad said the U.S. has underinvested in rural electrification for decades.
