By Sarah Schumann
November 3, 2016 — Members and supporters of the fishing industry from Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and Georgia called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to defend and improve the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). In a letter to the agency, fishermen and their organizations embraced certain aspects of a new final rule published by the agency in early October, while rebuking others. Additionally, they pressed the case for including propulsion-related efficiency investments in future REAP funding rounds alongside the non-propulsion upgrades that the program already funds.
“As the USDA updates its REAP rules,” the fishing indsutry letter states, “it is vital to ensure a continuation of the success experienced in Alaska (where the fleet has made groundbreaking use of REAP to support non-propulsion energy efficiency upgrades on fishing vessels) while also opening the same opportunities to fishermen across the country. It is critical to expand REAP eligibility to include a full spectrum of efficiency investments on fishing vessels – including those related to vessel propulsion. And lastly, it is crucial to ensure predictability in funding cycles and accessibility of application and reporting requirements – details that are important for building faith in the program and ensuring that fishing vessel owners are able to participate effectively.”
