24 Jul 09 GREEN BLOGGERS REVEAL FEDERAL FARM LOAN PROGRAM FROM THE 1930'S IS BEING USED TO BUILD NEW COAL PLANTS

<p align="left"><span lang="en-US" xml:lang="en-US">Bloggers are incensed about a scandal surrounding a federal loan program from the 1930's being used to finance construction of unclean coal plants throughout America. in Reportedly costing billions in taxpayer money, green blog </span><U><span lang="en-US" xml:lang="en-US">Watthead</span></U><span lang="en-US" xml:lang="en-US"> alleges that politicians are providing coal lobbyists access to “an antiquated, Depression-era, federal loan program... using billions of tax-payer dollars to finance low-interest loans for new coal plants.”

Watthead's latest post, aptly titled '</span><U><span lang="en-US" xml:lang="en-US">Federal Loans Finance New Coal Plants</span></U><span lang="en-US" xml:lang="en-US">' also states “Depression-era program to help electrify rural areas is still providing low-interest loans to rural electric cooperatives to build new coal-fired power plants,” The author considers this type of complicity to be, “a major force behind the rush to build dozens of new coal plants.”</span>

<p align="left" lang="en-US" xml:lang="en-US"><span lang="en-US" xml:lang="en-US">Widely-read blog </span><U><span lang="en-US" xml:lang="en-US">Cleanenergy</span></U><span lang="en-US" xml:lang="en-US"> provides some additional background on this loophole that is supposedly costing taxpayers billions of dollars a year. “The funding comes from the Agriculture Department's Rural Utilities Service, a program set up by the Rural Electrification Administration created in 1935 by President Franklin Roosevelt to bring electricity to farms in an era when established utilities were unwilling to bring power to rural areas.” </span>

<p align="left" lang="en-US" xml:lang="en-US">In an attempt to provide commentary from both sides of the debate, Cleanenergy quotes Glenn English, the Chief Executive of the National Rural Electric Association, “rural areas still need help to meet growing power demands at reasonable costs and that burning coal makes sense,” English adds, “per capita income of co-op members and consumers is 15 percent below the national average.”

<p align="left" lang="en-US" xml:lang="en-US"><span lang="en-US" xml:lang="en-US">For some commentary on the coal industry, many bloggers link to </span><U><span lang="en-US" xml:lang="en-US">EcoGeek's</span></U><span lang="en-US" xml:lang="en-US"> </span><U><span lang="en-US" xml:lang="en-US">latest post,</span></U><span lang="en-US" xml:lang="en-US"> “Unfortunately, there's a bill working through congress right now that would give coal companies billions of dollars to help them build coal-to-liquid plants. It would guarantee coal companies government contracts, including a $40-billion, 25-year deal with the air force.”</span>

<p align="left" lang="en-US" xml:lang="en-US"><span lang="en-US" xml:lang="en-US">Such wide-ranging issues are actively debated in many regions of the blogosphere. Blogging is an integral part of activism and community organization and many concerned greens are turning to Greenedia in order to stay informed about such an important topic.

<strong>About Greenedia</strong></span>

<p align="left"><span lang="en-US" xml:lang="en-US">Greenedia is your guide to the best Green social media available on the Internet. Green social media is not just about activism. We aggregate the most widely-read green blogs, podcasts and online video, all in one place. It's about the economy, business and investment. It's about living, building, driving and eating green. It's about daily life and the future lives of our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Please visit </span><U><span lang="en-US" xml:lang="en-US">Greenedia.com</span></U><span lang="en-US" xml:lang="en-US">.</span>

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Greenedia is your guide to the best Green social media available on the Internet. Green social media is not just about activism. We aggregate the most widely-read green blogs, podcasts and online video, all in one place.