N.C. Farm Bureau joins NC GreenPower corporate sponsorship program

NC GreenPower recently recognized the N.C. Farm Bureau as a new corporate sponsor. Fred Alphin, Counsel for the Bureau and member of the NC GreenPower Board of Directors, announced, "N.C. Farm Bureau is proud to be a sponsor of the NC GreenPower program and supports increased use of agricultural products in energy production."

The N.C. Farm Bureau Federation was organized in 1936, with a mission to protect the interests of farm and rural families across the state. North Carolina Farm Bureau is a grassroots organization that serves as a legislative supporter for its members at the local, state, national, and international levels. The program's objective is to give farmers a unified voice on agricultural issues and to provide representation for agriculture and rural communities across the state.

As a result of lacking insurance coverage on farms and rural areas in the state, the organization established the North Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company in 1953. N.C. Farm Bureau also funds several agriculture education programs including the R. Flake Shaw Scholarship Fund, the Ag in the Classroom program, and Institutes for Future Agriculture Leaders.

N.C. Farm Bureau's interest in NC GreenPower was sparked by the potential application of renewable energy technologies for practical usage on farms across the state. In years past, the idea of generating electric energy from animal wastes and agriculture products has been costly. By being a corporate sponsor of N.C. GreenPower, the Bureau hopes that many farmers can implement technologies that will allow them to produce energy from agricultural products.

NC GreenPower is a non-profit program that encourages the use of renewable energy sources to efficiently improve the state's power supply. Renewable energy sources used in the program include sun, wind, small hydro, methane gas and agricultural waste. All interested customers may sign up for the program by visiting www.ncgreenpower.org. All contributions are tax deductible.

NC GreenPower is a subsidiary of Advanced Energy, a Raleigh-based nonprofit corporation that enables utility customers to improve returns on energy investments. Advanced Energy also strives to create environmental and economic benefits through innovative approaches to energy.