Senators Tom Carper (D-DE) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) hosted an informational briefing with a panel of experts and commodity representatives, outlining the economic opportunities for the agricultural sector provided by the Clean Air Planning Act (S. 2724). The bill requires electric utilities to reduce or offset their carbon emissions using a cap-and-trade approach. Under this approach, electric utilities would be able to purchase emission reduction credits from farmers who undertake projects that remove carbon from the atmosphere.

Presenting at the briefing were:

• Mark Gaede, National Association of Wheat Growers



• Dr. Chuck Rice, Kansas State University



• Jeff Williams, Entergy

Presentations addressed how carbon sequestration can benefit the farming community and why the farming community has an important stake in the climate change policy debate. Attendees included senate staff members and representatives of agricultural interest groups; over 70 participated.