LEAPS Act

The LEAPS Act requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to create and share practical resources to help farmers and ranchers improve energy efficiency in their irrigation and livestock watering systems. Specifically, it mandates USDA to develop publicly available educational materials about cost and energy savings from efficient pumps, pipes, and controls, plus a user-friendly online tool for farmers to assess their current systems and estimate potential savings. The bill also directs USDA to train energy auditors on pumping system efficiency to strengthen existing conservation programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. These provisions directly affect agricultural operations using pumping systems, aiming to reduce energy use, water waste, and emissions through voluntary upgrades.