Agro-energy: Redefining energy and agriculture in Iowa
- Chariton Valley RC&D, Inc., Centerville, IA (United States)
Recent advantages in technology are leading to increased interest in agriculture as a source of energy. The replacement of fossil fuels with biomass is quite feasible in the near future. Investigation of renewable energy in Iowa has centered around the use of agricultural crops to generate electrical energy. Switchgrass, a native grass of Iowa, is one of the most promising biomass producers. Chariton Valley RC&D Inc., a USDA sponsored rural development organization based in southern Iowa and IES Utilities, a major Iowa energy company, are leading a statewide coalition of public and private interests to merge Iowa`s agricultural potential with long-term energy requirements to develop a locally sustainable source of biomass fuel. Many of the sois of southern Iowa are best suited to the production of forages and trees. Farm program changes, and the eventual end of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) make adding value and establishing long term markets for perennial forage crops vital for the area`s continued prosperity. Ten percent of the total land in the four county Chariton Valley area is in CRP -- 140,000 acres. Thousands more acres of marginal lands not in CRP, have limited production potential and would be available for biomass production. The associated benefits to water quality, sustainable soil capabilities and the local economy are phenomenal. IES Utilities is working with Iowa State University, R.W. Beck and other private industry interests to identify and develop the technology to convert agricultural crops to energy. The long term plan calls for 35 MW of electrical power production using a dedicated supply of biomass to be established in southern Iowa. This facility would use approximately 30,000 to 40,000 acres. Co-firing biomass with coal appears to provide a short cut to commercial use of biomass and will enhance interest in emerging advanced technologies.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 115380
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/CP-200-8098; CONF-9508104-; ON: DE95009230; TRN: 95:006736-0163
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 2. meeting on biomass of the Americas, Portland, OR (United States), 21-24 Aug 1995; Other Information: PBD: [1995]; Related Information: Is Part Of Second biomass conference of the Americas: Energy, environment, agriculture, and industry. Proceedings; PB: 1741 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Switchgrass biomass energy storage project. Final report, September 23, 1996--December 31, 1996
Chariton Valley Biomass Project Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact