Madison, WI Press Event Highlighting Investments In REAP
Event speakers included:
- Senator Melissa Agard, Senate District 16
- Representative Melissa Ratcliff, Assembly District 46
- Julie Lassa, USDA Rural Development State Director for Wisconsin
- Mike Strigel, Assistant Deputy Secretary, WI Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
- Tina Hinchley, Hinchley Farm and District Vice President, WI Farmers Union
Event recap:
The event, part of the CAC Clean Energy Revolution Tour, was held at Hinchley’s Dairy Farm and highlighted local climate progress in Dane County including roughly $19.5 billion that was allocated to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for conservation programs designed to help farmers be part of the solution to address climate change. The event also touted the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) investing over $27 million in Wisconsin through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).
Senator Melissa Agard opened the event by talking about the important role that agriculture plays in Dane County and the need to protect these natural resources. State Representative Melissa Ratcliff emphasized the importance of some of the local REAP grants in the area like the one that Dane County farmer Curt Brekken will use for a $20,000 REAP Award to also install a small solar electric array.
State Director Julie Lassa provided examples of how REAP grants are promoting rural development and boosting communities across the state of Wisconsin. Assistant Deputy Secretary Mike Stringel focused on some of the important climate-smart agriculture programs that the Inflation Reduction Act provides farmers in the Badger State. Lastly, Tina Hinchly closed the event sharing her experiences as a family farm in the area and providing stories about local Wisconsin Farmers Union members adopting climate smart agriculture practices.
The event was live streamed on the Climate Action Campaign Facebook page, here and the press release that was issued is below. A link to some of the still photos from the event is located here.
2 media outlets attended the event:
- WISC-TV (CBS)
- WMTV-TV (NBC)
Press Clips:
- Climate Action Campaign: The Clean Energy REVolution Tour to roll into Wisconsin to tout local climate and clean energy progress (WisPolitics, 7/25)
- ‘Clean Energy REVolution Tour’ highlights local family farm (WMTV, 8/6)
- Climate Action Campaign: Sen. Agard and state agricultural leaders gather at local dairy farm to host the Clean Energy Revolution Tour as it rolls into Dane County to tout investments in Climate Smart agriculture and rural communities (WisPolitics, 8/6)
- Clean energy investments boost Wisconsin agriculture (WisconsinAGConnection, 8/7)
- 4 clips on WMTV 8/6 and 8/7
- 3 clips on WSAW 8/6 and 8/7
- 2 clips on WISC on 8/6
- 2 clips on WZAW on 8/7
- WISC – Online Videos
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