Wyden, Merkley announce $200,000 federal award for Farmers Conservation Alliance efforts in Central Oregon

 WASHINGTON (KTVZ) -- Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., announced Friday the Farmers Conservation Alliance in Bend has earned a $200,000 Energizing Rural Communities award from the U.S. Department of Energy.  

“In my meetings and town halls throughout Oregon, I hear regularly from farmers and ranchers about the negative impacts the climate crisis is wreaking on their land and crops,” Wyden said. “Organizations like Farmers Conservation Alliance that work to optimize irrigation and energy resources are crucial to help our farmers continue to produce the fresh, local bounty we enjoy here in Oregon.”   

“Climate chaos continues to make the West hotter and dryer, depleting water resources for people, farms and wildlife,” said Merkley. “This federal funding is great news for the Farmers Conservation Alliance in Bend to modernize irrigation systems. I will keep fighting to make sure our water systems are sustainable, reliable, and climate-smart.” 

“Farmers Conservation Alliance works with rural communities to improve their water and energy infrastructure,” said Julie Davis O'Shea, Executive Director, Farmers Conservation Alliance. “The recognition and financial support from the Department of Energy’s Energizing Rural Communities Prize supports our continued ability to build energy resiliency in some of the nation’s most underserved communities.”

A representative of Hood River-based FCA said the Central Oregon grant will be used to do energy generation assessments for projects connected to irrigation modernization efforts.