The Hydraulic Institute (HI) met with Congressman Molinaro in Endicott, NY to recognize his exceptional leadership in the crafting and introduction of the bipartisan “Leveraging Efficiency Awareness for Pumping Systems Act” – LEAPS Act and discuss the path to passage of this landmark legislation. Congressman Molinaro has worked closely with Central New York pump and pipe manufacturers, the Hydraulic Institute, and his colleagues on the Ag Committee to develop bipartisan energy efficiency legislation that can save American farmers hundreds of millions of dollars annually in reduced pumping costs and support hundreds of pump manufacturing jobs in the Empire State.

The LEAPS Act directs the USDA to provide farmers with timely information on the benefits of energy-efficient pumping systems and develop “tools” for farmers to assess the energy/cost savings that can be realized. The bill also calls on USDA to train employees conducting on-farm energy audits on the benefits that can be derived from improved pumping systems. Details on the bipartisan LEAPS Act (H.R 7523) can be found here.

At the press conference, Michael Michaud, Executive Director of the Hydraulic Institute noted that “Congressman Molinaro has been an incredible partner in drafting the bipartisan LEAPS Act and navigating Capitol Hill. After a House Ag Committee Field Hearing in Binghamton last April, where upstate NY pump and pipe manufactures testified about the benefits of energy-efficient pumping systems, Congressman Molinaro convened stakeholders and engaged Democratic Members of the Ag Committee in the process of drafting legislation.”

“Congressman Molinaro made it clear from the outset that bipartisan legislation provided the clearest path to the President’s desk. The LEAPS Act was introduced by the Congressman with two Democratic Members of the Ag Committee as original cosponsors – Congresswoman Slotkin (D-MI) and Congresswoman Caraveo (D-CO),” Michaud added.

The installation of energy-efficient pumping systems offers a tremendous opportunity to reduce electricity use on Americas Farms. New pumping systems could ultimately save farmers $2.8 B annually in energy costs and reduce carbon emissions by 9.9 million tons each year. A report detailing the benefits of energy-efficient pumping systems is available here.

HI looks forward to continuing to work with Congressman Molinaro and the other Members of the Ag Committee to have the LEAPS Act included in the Farm Bill that ultimately becomes law.