VPM: Spanberger Proposes Carbon Trading Program for Farmers

Jun 29, 2020
Agriculture
Energy & Environment
In the News

VPM, PATRICK LARSEN

On Friday, Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Glen Allen) proposed the Growing Climate Solutions Act. The bipartisan legislation aims to help farmers and foresters get involved in carbon trading, the practice of buying and selling permits – or credits – to emit carbon dioxide. Those credits are intended to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere with market-based incentives.

Spanberger’s bill, cosponsored by Rep. Don Bacon (R-Nebraska), would direct the USDA to create guidelines and verify third-party groups to assist farmers entering the carbon market.

Spanberger says that climate friendly farming and forestry practices are already well known.

“Good forest management practices also ensure that our forests are able to pull that CO2 and emit back out oxygen into our environment,” she said.

However, many farmers don’t know how to take advantage of the carbon marketplace.

“This bill gets at the heart of that and provides – creates a role for farmers and producers,” she said.

Ben Rowe, national affairs coordinator at the Virginia Farm Bureau, says the bill would greatly simplify things for farmers and foresters – who now face a complicated carbon marketplace.

“Putting this under one agency that already has experience working with farmers gives them the certainty they need,” Rowe said.

He says making this revenue stream more accessible would give a boost to farmers who embrace environmental practices – that’s an especially powerful incentive due to big losses from COVID-19.

Spanberger says that the bill would be another step closer to carbon neutrality.

 

Recent Posts


Oct 30, 2024
Healthcare

Spanberger Seeks Additional Answers from DEA, FDA on Efforts to Stop Ongoing ADHD Medication Shortages

The Congresswoman Has Consistently Pressed the Federal Government to Take Additional Steps to Protect Access to ADHD Medications & Work with Manufacturers to Prevent Future Shortages WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger is urging the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to provide additional answers on their work to end […]



Oct 30, 2024
Infrastructure

Spanberger Announces More Than $9.6 Million for Infrastructure Upgrades at FBI Academy in Quantico

These Federal Grant Dollars — Made Possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law — Will Upgrade Infrastructure & Increase Energy Efficiency at FBI Academy Dormitory WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger today announced that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded a total of $9,615,430 for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to make […]



Oct 29, 2024
Infrastructure

Spanberger Announces $380 Million for Virginia Port Authority to Fund Zero-Emissions Equipment & Infrastructure at Port of Virginia

These Federal Grant Dollars — Made Possible by the Inflation Reduction Act — Will Help the Virginia Port Authority Fund Electric Cargo Handling Equipment, Charging Infrastructure, & Battery Energy Storage System WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger today announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded a total of $380 million for […]