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Energy and Environmental Policy

Overview

The Office of Energy and Environmental Policy (OEEP) serves as a focal point for the Department’s energy, environmental markets, and climate change activities, positioning USDA and the people we serve to meet future challenges and opportunities. OEEP coordinates policy analysis, long-range planning, research priority setting, and response strategies for addressing energy development and environmental policy.

OEEP houses the Climate Change Program Office (CCPO), the Office of Energy Policy and New Uses (OEPNU), and the Office of Environmental Markets (OEM).

OEEP identifies opportunities to develop renewable energy and resources, build climate resilient and sustainable farms, ranches, rural lands and rural communities, expand markets for conservation and environmental goods, and support farmer conservation decision-making.

Featured Reports

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Announcements

USDA Public Consultation on Climate-Smart Agriculture Biofuel Feedstocks

In June, Secretary Vilsack announced a USDA Request for Information on Procedures for Quantification, Reporting, and Verification of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Associated with the Production of Domestic Agricultural Commodities Used as Biofuel Feedstocks. This Request for Information sought information on practices that have the potential to mitigate GHG emissions and/or sequester carbon, and quantification, reporting, and verification approaches for the GHG outcomes associated with domestic agricultural commodities used as biofuel feedstocks.

In accordance with USDA’s authorities under the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, section 2709 (16 U.S.C. 3845: Environmental services markets) USDA will be hosting a series of public consultations to seek input from the following groups:

  • Federal and state government agencies;
  • Farm, ranch, and forestry producers;
  • Financial institutions involved in environmental services trading;
  • Institutions of higher education with relevant expertise or experience;
  • Nongovernmental organizations with relevant expertise or experience; and
  • Private sector representatives with relevant expertise or experience.

We will hold three sessions, and we invite you to register for one of the consultation sessions below. Attendees must register before the session they plan to attend to provide comments or listen during the public consultation. To ensure that everyone has an opportunity to provide comments, we ask that you register for one speaking slot per organization and limit comments to 3 minutes. If applicable, consider providing joint remarks on behalf of multiple organizations.