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Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Canada Expands TB Quarantines
Quarantines related to the discovery of bovine tuberculosis in Canada have expanded into the Saskatchewan providence. Ag Canada reports two farms in southwestern Saskatchewan were added to the list of those under quarantine. The quarantines stem from an Alberta cow testing positive for bovine tuberculosis at a United States packing plant. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency recently reported approximately 33 farms in Alberta are under quarantine while the nation investigates the case, which could take several months. The agency has only confirmed one case and the source of infection so far remains “unknown.” The agency says genetic analysis also shows the bovine TB organism from the infected cow is not the same as any strains detected in domestic animals or wildlife to date in Canada. Canada is still considered officially free of bovine TB and would lose that status only if another separate case is confirmed within 48 months. Other TB-positive animals found in connection to the current probe would not be considered a separate case.
USDA Awards 2017 Funding for Market Development Programs
The Department of Agriculture announced $200 million in awards for market development programs in 2017. The funding will help more than 70 U.S. agricultural organizations expand export markets for U.S. agriculture through the USDA Market Access Program and the Foreign Market Development Program. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack Tuesday said the investments boost agricultural export revenue and volume, while also supporting farm income. The Market Access Program will provide $173.5 million in fiscal year 2017 funding to 70 nonprofit organizations and cooperatives. USDA says the organizations use the funds to help U.S. agricultural producers promote their products to consumers around the globe. The Foreign Market Development program will allocate $26.6 million in fiscal year 2017 funds to 26 trade organizations that represent U.S. agricultural producers. The program focuses on generic promotion of U.S. commodities, rather than consumer-oriented promotion of branded products.
Froman: TPP in Purgatory
U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman says years of negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership were not a waste of time, and the deal could still be implemented at some point. Speaking at a Politico event on trade this week, Froman says aspects of TPP— if not the deal itself —should be preserved and revived down the road. Froman told the crowd a clear takeaway from last week's election results is that Americans are concerned they are on an unfair playing field globally. Froman says he is hopeful the benefits of TPP will be seen over time as the rest of the world moves on. He did not go as far to say TPP is “dead,” but referred to the trade deal as being in purgatory. Also speaking at the event, House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady, a Texas Republican, says while the agreement is on hold, “that doesn’t mean the entire trade agenda has to be.” He encouraged President-elect Donald Trump to focus on strengthening the problems he sees in trade agreements including TPP and NAFTA
NFU Backs American Food for American Schools Legislation
The National Farmers Union applauded the introduction of the “American Food for American Schools Act of 2016” Tuesday. The legislation aims to enforce provisions of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act that require school nutrition providers to purchase domestically produced and processed foods, to the extent practicable. NFU senior vice president of public policy Rob Larew says improving transparency and enforcement of the Buy American provisions allows the U.S. to “better support both American agriculture and child nutrition.” The legislation, introduced by California Democratic Representative John Garamendi(gair-uh-mend-dee), would require school nutrition providers to request a waiver from the Department of Agriculture should they decide to purchase a foreign food product, differing from the current law which does not require a waiver be requested.
Speaking up for Beef: Joint Effort Extends Knowledge of Beef through State Councils
Checkoff’s Nutrition Seminar Program Benefits Health Professionals, Beef Industry
Nutrition professionals who provide advice to consumers are always on the lookout for credible and useful information about food. Thanks to a national beef checkoff-funded program being implemented by state beef councils, they’re finding welcome information about beef.
The objective of the program is to place credentialed nutrition speakers on the programs at state health and nutrition organization events. The speakers, who sometimes are researchers who have worked closely with the beef industry, can present on a wide range of topics, which can be tailored to the needs of each state organization.
The benefits of the program are numerous. First, placing these experts in the local markets delivers important and timely beef and nutrition information to health professionals who need it. It also helps state beef councils develop and strengthen their relationships with both the groups and the individual professionals who attend their events. This helps secure the council’s reputation as the “go-to source” for all things beef within that state.
The program is also a collaborative education tool that allows state beef councils and the national Beef Checkoff Program to work together efficiently to improve the health community’s knowledge of beef.
Because the program is funded through the national Beef Checkoff Program, state beef councils have a huge motivation to use it. “It’s an opportunity to have expert speakers reach a critical audience for beef without having to dip into their own budgets,” according to Erin Weber, RDN, manager of health communications outreach for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, which manages the program under contract to the Beef Checkoff Program.
For the beef checkoff’s 2016 fiscal year (ended Sept. 30), 35 state beef councils had taken advantage of the program, says Weber. So far in fiscal year 2017, about a dozen have committed to participating in the program, with more expected to confirm their involvement before the end of the calendar year.
Among audiences that have been reached through the program are dietitians, physicians, nurses, physical fitness professionals and others in the health field. “These authorities either grant permission to eat beef, or they take it away,” according to Traci Bracco, executive director of the Idaho Beef Council (IBC). “It’s a critical audience for our message.” Students in these fields have also been reached.
Bracco and other state beef council managers and executives think the program is among the most effective and efficient examples of the state/national beef checkoff partnership.
“It works beautifully,” according to Holly Swee, director of nutrition and consumer information for the South Dakota Beef Industry Council (SDBIC). “We value having it as a resource and a tool for reaching our health audiences.”
Swee appreciates the fact that program speakers are approved and selected by the national beef team to make sure they are appropriate and accurate spokespeople for beef. Bracco agrees, and says it’s important that speakers have been selected for their experience, knowledge, speaking ability and appropriateness to the message. “These are vetted speakers, so we know we’re not taking a gamble on the message they will deliver,” she says.
Flexible and Strategic
Health organizations appreciate the fact that they have the chance to select nationally-recognized speakers, with topics that make the most sense for their events. These groups sometimes have limited resources and reach, and don’t always have access to the highest quality speakers.
“Many times these groups have a hard time coming up with dynamic, credible, national presenters,” Swee says. “They’re searching for well-rounded speakers, and appreciate this resource. It allows us to get information out about beef and build relationships with these groups at the same time.”
“We couldn’t find this many high caliber presenters within Idaho – especially when there are so many different topics,” says Bracco. “Our efforts go much further, and our message carries more weight, when we can provide these national speakers.”
According to Donette Spann, promotion coordinator for the Arkansas Beef Council (ABC), the program offers tremendous value for their state. “Arkansas is not a huge state in terms of budget,” she says. “Because the Nutrition Seminar Program is funded nationally, we can still have a well-coordinated and professional program.
Another state with a limited budget is South Carolina, which significantly stretches that budget with the national program, according to Roy Copelan, executive director of the South Carolina Beef Council (SCBC). “I would rate this checkoff-funded program an A+,” he says. “It’s a great avenue to tell the beef story, and has matched very well for us.”
This coming March, at the South Carolina Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Conference, the SCBC will participate in the Nutrition Seminar program for the third time. Copelan says his organization has seen increasing attendance and interest each of the years a program-sponsored speaker has presented. Furthermore, he has gotten positive reviews on the presentations from participants of subsequent health-oriented events at which SCBC exhibits, including the family physicians, hospital and health associations.
“We’re getting great mileage out of this program,” he says.
“Our board absolutely loves it,” says ABC’s Spann. “It makes good sense economically, as we don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Plus, we’re able to bring in nationally known speakers who can give topics a fresh perspective.”
Swee, who says South Dakota has utilized the program for at least 10 years, believes beef producers are getting tremendous value through it for their beef checkoff dollar. “This is definitely a big bang for the buck,” she says. “We’re going directly to the source. And we’re being very transparent with this audience, able to get current and reliable research information directly into the hands of people who can use it.”
Many of the speakers have done research that involved beef, and have “walked the walk,” says Idaho’s Bracco. “These speakers believe in beef protein, so it’s a win/win for both the group and the industry,” she says. As representatives of the beef industry, “you never have to worry about the Nutrition Seminar program.”
While the information is important, the presentation is also critical, says Mitch Rippe, director of nutrition and education at the Nebraska Beef Council (NBC). “It’s pretty cool that we’re bringing in researchers, but what’s really great is that these individuals are also some very engaging speakers,” he says. “We’ve never had a bad one.”
In addition to programs in Nebraska, Rippe has worked with beef councils in surrounding states, including Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, to utilize the Nutrition Seminar program to gather and provide presentations to top influencers from their states. In this way, the councils can share some influencer costs regionally, utilizing the national program to tap into the expertise found within the speakers bureau.
Since the program is funded nationally, states like Arkansas can get involved in the health organization events as much as their budget and interest allows, says Spann. She says the program provides an important piece of the ABC’s involvement with the health community. The state council also pays for a lunch, a reception and a booth at the annual Arkansas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics conference, so the speakers “are just the icing on the cake,” she says.
The Topics
Weber says speakers are capable of presenting on a wide number of current topics. Protein is key, of course, and beef as a first food has also become popular with recent research of interest to the health community. This year, feeding the family will also be a prime topic, as the beef checkoff promotes its Families in Motion campaign.
ABC’s Spann says a popular presentation in their state recently focused on the changing needs of a woman’s diet throughout her lifetime and beef’s role in making a significant difference in overall health and energy. This was presented by Kim Schwabenbauer, MS, RD, LDN, who has more than 14 years of experience as a registered dietitian. Schwabenbauer is a triathlon coach, a professional triathlete, a certified specialist in sports nutrition and a nationally-recognized speaker to companies and conferences on sports nutrition related topics.
Spann says presentations can sometimes focus significantly on beef – but not always. She notes, however, that beef messages are always incorporated into the presentations. Occasionally, she says, ABC will work with other ag groups, such as dairy, to combine common messages, such as sustainability, the environment or family farming.
Thousands Reached
In South Dakota, Swee says the overall reach over the course of the program in the state has “easily been in the thousands,” with individual audiences in the 100-200 range. Those in the audiences are typically very receptive to the messages, and use them in their consumer outreach. “It’s a personal investment by these health influencers in acquiring information,” she says. “They ask good questions, and are sincere about wanting to learn more about the topics.”
Rippe estimates NBC has been able to reach about half of the key nutrition influencers in Nebraska through the program, and says the quality and credibility of the speakers has helped his organization expand its outreach to audiences they may not have been able to reach. “This program really gives states the ability to reach a variety of key influencers at the state level,” he says.
IBC’s Bracco says the program allows her board to budget for not only expected health organization events, but for two “opportunistic” events every year. “This allows us to do our jobs better,” she says. “It’s really a great program.”
“We’re reaching major influencers – the decision-makers in their organizations,” says Spann in Arkansas. “Our beef checkoff focuses on reaching the right audiences at the right time with the right message, and no checkoff-funded program better succeeds at that than this one.”
Nutrition professionals who provide advice to consumers are always on the lookout for credible and useful information about food. Thanks to a national beef checkoff-funded program being implemented by state beef councils, they’re finding welcome information about beef.
The objective of the program is to place credentialed nutrition speakers on the programs at state health and nutrition organization events. The speakers, who sometimes are researchers who have worked closely with the beef industry, can present on a wide range of topics, which can be tailored to the needs of each state organization.
The benefits of the program are numerous. First, placing these experts in the local markets delivers important and timely beef and nutrition information to health professionals who need it. It also helps state beef councils develop and strengthen their relationships with both the groups and the individual professionals who attend their events. This helps secure the council’s reputation as the “go-to source” for all things beef within that state.
The program is also a collaborative education tool that allows state beef councils and the national Beef Checkoff Program to work together efficiently to improve the health community’s knowledge of beef.
Because the program is funded through the national Beef Checkoff Program, state beef councils have a huge motivation to use it. “It’s an opportunity to have expert speakers reach a critical audience for beef without having to dip into their own budgets,” according to Erin Weber, RDN, manager of health communications outreach for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, which manages the program under contract to the Beef Checkoff Program.
For the beef checkoff’s 2016 fiscal year (ended Sept. 30), 35 state beef councils had taken advantage of the program, says Weber. So far in fiscal year 2017, about a dozen have committed to participating in the program, with more expected to confirm their involvement before the end of the calendar year.
Among audiences that have been reached through the program are dietitians, physicians, nurses, physical fitness professionals and others in the health field. “These authorities either grant permission to eat beef, or they take it away,” according to Traci Bracco, executive director of the Idaho Beef Council (IBC). “It’s a critical audience for our message.” Students in these fields have also been reached.
Bracco and other state beef council managers and executives think the program is among the most effective and efficient examples of the state/national beef checkoff partnership.
“It works beautifully,” according to Holly Swee, director of nutrition and consumer information for the South Dakota Beef Industry Council (SDBIC). “We value having it as a resource and a tool for reaching our health audiences.”
Swee appreciates the fact that program speakers are approved and selected by the national beef team to make sure they are appropriate and accurate spokespeople for beef. Bracco agrees, and says it’s important that speakers have been selected for their experience, knowledge, speaking ability and appropriateness to the message. “These are vetted speakers, so we know we’re not taking a gamble on the message they will deliver,” she says.
Flexible and Strategic
Health organizations appreciate the fact that they have the chance to select nationally-recognized speakers, with topics that make the most sense for their events. These groups sometimes have limited resources and reach, and don’t always have access to the highest quality speakers.
“Many times these groups have a hard time coming up with dynamic, credible, national presenters,” Swee says. “They’re searching for well-rounded speakers, and appreciate this resource. It allows us to get information out about beef and build relationships with these groups at the same time.”
“We couldn’t find this many high caliber presenters within Idaho – especially when there are so many different topics,” says Bracco. “Our efforts go much further, and our message carries more weight, when we can provide these national speakers.”
According to Donette Spann, promotion coordinator for the Arkansas Beef Council (ABC), the program offers tremendous value for their state. “Arkansas is not a huge state in terms of budget,” she says. “Because the Nutrition Seminar Program is funded nationally, we can still have a well-coordinated and professional program.
Another state with a limited budget is South Carolina, which significantly stretches that budget with the national program, according to Roy Copelan, executive director of the South Carolina Beef Council (SCBC). “I would rate this checkoff-funded program an A+,” he says. “It’s a great avenue to tell the beef story, and has matched very well for us.”
This coming March, at the South Carolina Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Conference, the SCBC will participate in the Nutrition Seminar program for the third time. Copelan says his organization has seen increasing attendance and interest each of the years a program-sponsored speaker has presented. Furthermore, he has gotten positive reviews on the presentations from participants of subsequent health-oriented events at which SCBC exhibits, including the family physicians, hospital and health associations.
“We’re getting great mileage out of this program,” he says.
“Our board absolutely loves it,” says ABC’s Spann. “It makes good sense economically, as we don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Plus, we’re able to bring in nationally known speakers who can give topics a fresh perspective.”
Swee, who says South Dakota has utilized the program for at least 10 years, believes beef producers are getting tremendous value through it for their beef checkoff dollar. “This is definitely a big bang for the buck,” she says. “We’re going directly to the source. And we’re being very transparent with this audience, able to get current and reliable research information directly into the hands of people who can use it.”
Many of the speakers have done research that involved beef, and have “walked the walk,” says Idaho’s Bracco. “These speakers believe in beef protein, so it’s a win/win for both the group and the industry,” she says. As representatives of the beef industry, “you never have to worry about the Nutrition Seminar program.”
While the information is important, the presentation is also critical, says Mitch Rippe, director of nutrition and education at the Nebraska Beef Council (NBC). “It’s pretty cool that we’re bringing in researchers, but what’s really great is that these individuals are also some very engaging speakers,” he says. “We’ve never had a bad one.”
In addition to programs in Nebraska, Rippe has worked with beef councils in surrounding states, including Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, to utilize the Nutrition Seminar program to gather and provide presentations to top influencers from their states. In this way, the councils can share some influencer costs regionally, utilizing the national program to tap into the expertise found within the speakers bureau.
Since the program is funded nationally, states like Arkansas can get involved in the health organization events as much as their budget and interest allows, says Spann. She says the program provides an important piece of the ABC’s involvement with the health community. The state council also pays for a lunch, a reception and a booth at the annual Arkansas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics conference, so the speakers “are just the icing on the cake,” she says.
The Topics
Weber says speakers are capable of presenting on a wide number of current topics. Protein is key, of course, and beef as a first food has also become popular with recent research of interest to the health community. This year, feeding the family will also be a prime topic, as the beef checkoff promotes its Families in Motion campaign.
ABC’s Spann says a popular presentation in their state recently focused on the changing needs of a woman’s diet throughout her lifetime and beef’s role in making a significant difference in overall health and energy. This was presented by Kim Schwabenbauer, MS, RD, LDN, who has more than 14 years of experience as a registered dietitian. Schwabenbauer is a triathlon coach, a professional triathlete, a certified specialist in sports nutrition and a nationally-recognized speaker to companies and conferences on sports nutrition related topics.
Spann says presentations can sometimes focus significantly on beef – but not always. She notes, however, that beef messages are always incorporated into the presentations. Occasionally, she says, ABC will work with other ag groups, such as dairy, to combine common messages, such as sustainability, the environment or family farming.
Thousands Reached
In South Dakota, Swee says the overall reach over the course of the program in the state has “easily been in the thousands,” with individual audiences in the 100-200 range. Those in the audiences are typically very receptive to the messages, and use them in their consumer outreach. “It’s a personal investment by these health influencers in acquiring information,” she says. “They ask good questions, and are sincere about wanting to learn more about the topics.”
Rippe estimates NBC has been able to reach about half of the key nutrition influencers in Nebraska through the program, and says the quality and credibility of the speakers has helped his organization expand its outreach to audiences they may not have been able to reach. “This program really gives states the ability to reach a variety of key influencers at the state level,” he says.
IBC’s Bracco says the program allows her board to budget for not only expected health organization events, but for two “opportunistic” events every year. “This allows us to do our jobs better,” she says. “It’s really a great program.”
“We’re reaching major influencers – the decision-makers in their organizations,” says Spann in Arkansas. “Our beef checkoff focuses on reaching the right audiences at the right time with the right message, and no checkoff-funded program better succeeds at that than this one.”
USFRA Announces Third Chairman
ST. LOUIS, (November 15, 2016) - As an organization founded in 2010 to unite agriculture and earn consumer trust in today's farming and ranching practices, U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) is proud to announce its third Chairman. Following two predecessors and exceptional advocates for agriculture, Chairman Bob Stallman (representing American Farm Bureau Federation) and Chairwoman Nancy Kavazanjian (representing United Soybean Board), South Dakota crop and livestock farmer Brad Greenway will serve as the new chairman (representing National Pork Board). Elected at the USFRA board meeting on November 8 in Kansas City, Mo., Brad Greenway will be joined by a new executive committee, including:Vice Chairman: Chip Bowling, representing National Corn Growers AssociationTreasurer: Scott VanderWal, representing American Farm Bureau FederationSecretary: Roberta Simpson-Dolbeare, representing Illinois Soybean AssociationImmediate Past Chairwoman: Nancy Kavazanjian, representing United Soybean BoardAt-Large: Monty Henderson, representing U.S. Poultry and Egg AssociationAt-Large Partner: Mike Parrish, representing Monsanto"I'm humbled to serve as chairman of the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance and want to ensure that our farmers and ranchers continue to be present in influential conversations about food and agriculture," said Brad Greenway, USFRA Chairman and South Dakota crop and livestock farmer. "As we dialogue with consumers and key influencers, it's necessary to maintain an assertive voice that 'breaks through' today's marketing hype and demonstrates shared values of sustainability and continuous improvement." Of USFRA's 17-member Board of Directors, our new board members are:Katie Brenny (Federation of State Beef Councils): Katie and her husband Ted live on a beef farm outside of Mazeppa, Minn., where they raise Charolais and Angus cows and calves.Phil Borgic (National Pork Producers Council): Phil is a hog farmer from Nokomis, Ill., and owner of Borgic Farms, Inc., which includes a sow herd and 210 acres of corn, soybeans and wheat.Galen Lee (American Sugarbeet Growers Association): Galen and his parents own and operate Sunnyside Farm, LLC, in New Plymouth, Idaho. In addition to 230 acres of sugarbeets, the 1,250-acre operation also raises asparagus, peppermint, alfalfa, corn silage, peas, dry corn, earlage and a 250-head dairy and 85 head cow/calf operation.USFRA's Board of Directors, consisting primarily of farmers and ranchers, includes: Brad Greenway (National Pork Board), Chip Bowling (National Corn Growers Association), Roberta Simpson-Dolbeare (Illinois Soybean Association), Scott VanderWal (American Farm Bureau Federation), Nancy Kavazanjian (United Soybean Board), Monty Henderson (U.S. Poultry & Egg Association), Michael Parrish (Monsanto), Lisa Lunz (Nebraska Soybean Board), Katie Brenny (Federation of State Beef Councils), Charles Studer (John Deere), Chris Galen (National Milk Producers Federation), Todd Frazier (DuPont Pioneer), Jeanette Merritt (Indiana Soybean Alliance), Gene Stoel (Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council), Phil Borgic (National Pork Producers Council), Galen Lee (American Sugarbeet Growers Association), To be named (National Cattlemen's Beef Association).
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Trump Considering Oil Billionaire And North Dakota Lawmaker For Environmental And Energy Posts
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President-elect Donald Trump is considering an oil billionaire and a North Dakota lawmaker for top posts as he moves to roll back President Barack Obama's environmental and energy policies and allow unfettered production of oil, coal and natural gas.Trump has vowed to rescind "all job-destroying Obama executive actions" and pledges to sharply increase oil and gas drilling on federal lands while opening up offshore drilling in the Atlantic Ocean and other areas where it is blocked.Topping Trump's to-do list is repealing the Clean Power Plan, Obama's signature effort to limit carbon pollution from coal-fired power plants. The plan -- the linchpin of Obama's strategy to fight climate change -- is currently on hold awaiting a court ruling.Trump also is targeting recent Obama administration efforts to reduce air and water pollution that have been opposed by Republicans and industries that profit from the extraction and burning of fossil fuels, including a rule to protect small streams and wetlands and ozone regulations designed to cut down on smog.Those under consideration for energy secretary include Harold Hamm, an Oklahoma oil tycoon and leading proponent of fracking, and North Dakota Rep. Kevin Cramer, an early Trump supporter from a major oil drilling state, according to transition planning documents obtained by The Associated Press.Venture capitalist Robert Grady, who worked in President George H.W. Bush's administration, is listed as a contender to lead both the Energy and Interior departments.It's unclear whether the list is exhaustive or has been reviewed by Trump. The Republican is in the early stages of setting up his administration.A coalition of conservative states has challenged both the Clean Power Plan and the water rule, which expanded the definition of waters protected under the Clean Water Act to smaller non-navigable waters and seasonal tributaries.The administration says the rule would safeguard drinking water for 117 million people, but Republicans and some Democrats representing rural areas say the regulations are costly, confusing and amount to a government power grab. Federal courts have put the rules on hold as judges review lawsuits.Trump also is likely to move quickly to approve the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada, which Obama rejected last year. Trump highlighted the project at a campaign stop in Florida last month and listed it among his top priorities for the first 100 days of his administration.Karen Harbert, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute for 21st Century Energy, said Trump can and will move quickly to overturn Obama's executive orders. From there, he will likely move to approve a new five-year plan that vastly expands offshore drilling and lift a moratorium on coal leasing on federal lands."If you have a good offense and a good defense you will win," Harbert said. Whoever Trump picks for key jobs will share his goals of "moving fast, changing the process which is not working now and getting things done," she said.Obama said Monday that Trump should be in no hurry to make changes, citing progress on reducing carbon emissions that he said "has been greater than any country on earth. And gas is two bucks a gallon."Trump and his team "may want to take the country in a significantly different direction. But they've got time to consider what exactly they want to achieve," Obama said at a White House news conference.Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club, the nation's oldest and largest environmental group, said Trump may not find is so easy to undo eight years of administration policies, which Brune said have all had "exhaustive public review and have proven benefits" to the economy and the environment.Environmental groups don't plan to make Trump's job any easier."We intend to fight like mad, both in the courts and in the streets, to resist any rollbacks by the Trump administration," Brune said.Some of those protests have already begun. Groups opposing the construction of an oil pipeline through the Midwest are planning more than 200 protest actions across the country Tuesday as the administration reviews the project.The groups want Obama to reject the $3.8 billion Dakota Access pipeline from North Dakota to Illinois. The pipeline, set to run near a drinking water source for the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, has been the focus of months-long confrontations between police and protesters in North Dakota.Even as they gear up to oppose Trump, Brune said environmentalists may find some common ground with the president-elect. Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power not only help fight climate change but are creating thousands of new jobs across the country, he said."If President-elect Trump is looking for a stimulus in energy he will find it in the solar and wind industries," Brune said. "Clean energy has been a better source of job growth" than fossil fuels such as oil and coal in recent years.Trump has said tax credits and other subsidies for wind and solar power "distort" the market, but says the U.S. should "encourage all facets of the energy industry," including wind and solar power, as a way to achieve energy independence.
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