Working with farmers, ranchers and rural communities to produce clean energy

June 2004 – Newsletter #5 | Archive

USDA Offers $13.2 Million for Biomass Energy Projects
The Rural Business-Cooperative Service is soliciting proposals under the Value-Added Producer Grant Program (Section 6041). Priority consideration will be given to projects with at least 51% of costs dedicated to biomass energy project planning. Applications are due July 30th, with awards announced October 1st. The RBS predicts it will award some 78 grants with an average award of $170,000. Download the complete federal notice here.

USDA Establishes Pilot Project for Energy from Livestock
The Rural Business-Cooperative Service has also announced an emergency guaranteed loan program for renewable energy systems utilizing diseased cattle. The new program is part of the agency's effort to address Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE). Applications are due August 16th.

ACEEE Surveys Section 9006 Participants
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy has been reviewing projects and programs associated with Section 9006 of the 2002 Farm Bill. ACEEE investigated the experiences of applicants to determine challenges and barriers, and help program managers better implement energy efficiency programs in agriculture.

Federal Funding for Rural Areas
The Rural Information Center, a project of the USDA's National Agricultural Library, recently announced a new database on Federal Funding Sources for Rural Areas. You can search by keyword or review listings by department or agency.

US Dept of Energy Reorganizes Biomass Website
DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy has merged their separate sites for Biofuels, Biopower, and Industries of the Future-Agriculture into one common portal. Be sure to pay a visit, and then check your bookmarks.

...BIODIESEL...

Columbia Oilseed Receives Economic Development Support
The Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board recently approved a $980,000 loan to Lincoln County Regional PDA's Light Industrial Park for infrastructure improvements. The facilities will be leased to a joint venture between American Premix in Creston and Stetner Seed in Ephrata to crush canola seed for meal and oil. An estimated 22 full-time jobs will be created by the third year of operation.

Biodiesel: Oregon's Next "Cutting-Edge" Crop?
The many benefits of biodiesel, production options and anticipated demand in Oregon are explored in this Capital Press article. As OSU agronomist Daryl Ehrensing points out, "We can get people with wildly divergent political views to agree on something: that growing our own fuel is probably a good idea instead of importing it all."

Pacific Biodiesel Cooking with Alaskan Fish Oil
Pacific Biodiesel is converting 5,000 pounds of Alaskan fish oil into biodiesel under a pilot project with the Alaska Energy Authority. The fuel will go to the University of Fairbanks' Arctic Energy Technology Development Lab for further testing. The Alaskan fish-processing industry discards some 3.5 million gallons of fish oil each year.

...ETHANOL...

Idaho Biorefinery Proposed for Canyon County
A group of Canyon County farmers are working to finance a $35 million plant that would use methane from an anaerobic digester capable of processing waste from 25,000 head of cattle. The methane will heat boilers at an ethanol plant, which would process corn into ethanol fuel. Soon to be known as Snake River Agricultural Producers, project proponents are restructuring their board in hopes of attracting USDA funds for a feasibility study.

Fort Belknap Tribe Considers Ethanol Plant
The Fort Belknap tribal government is raising funds for a feasibility study for a $65 million plant to produce ethanol and cattle feed, and process manure to help power the plant. The tribe was awarded a $50,000 grant from USDA Rural Development, and other applications are pending. The proposed plant could provide 60 jobs with an annual payroll of $2.5 million, and create as many as 240 other new jobs by stimulating the local economy.

Construction Begins on Washington's First Intertied Digester
Manure from some 1,500 cows will soon feed an anaerobic digester at the Vander Haak Dairy in Whatcom County. Up to 100 million pounds of methane will be produced each year for power generation, enough to serve 180 average homes. The electricity is being purchased by Puget Sound Energy through their Green Power program. The Capital Press featured a front page article on the project.

Digesters Important Component of Idaho Dairy Industry Expansion
The rapid growth of Idaho's dairy industry, and concerns over air and water emissions, has state leaders and dairy farmers exploring ways to make digester technologies more economically viable. Financial assistance from government programs is seen as one way to help overcome initial construction costs. Meanwhile, construction of Intrepid Technology's digester at Whitesides Dairy should be completed in the next month.

Montana Pulp Mill Explores Wood-Fired CHP Project
A partnership between government agencies and timber interests is exploring use of wood debris from slash piles, forest-thinning projects, log yards, furniture makers and construction sites to produce 8 MW of power for the Smurfit-Stone pulp mill in Frenchtown.

Northwest Testifies at National Biomass Hearing
The Northwest was well represented at a June 23rd Congressional oversight hearing on Developing Biomass Potential: Turning Hazardous Fuels into Valuable Products. The House Subcommittee on Forests & Forest Health heard testimony on biomass energy projects in the region from the USA Biomass Power Producers Alliance, Plummer Forest Products, Bitterroot RC&D, and Watershed Research & Training Center.

First USDA-Funded Wind Turbine Begins Operation
LeRoy Jarolimek's 20 kW turbine on Burley Butte went on-line June 3rd thanks to a Renewable Energy System and Energy Efficiency Improvement (Section 9006) grant from the USDA. The turbine is expected to pay for itself within about eight years. Plans are underway for an $11 million, 10 MW expansion with six additional turbines. "If I can develop it, then the next neighbor to me or a group of farmers can go together and develop the same type of project," said Jarolimek.

New Community Wind Financing Handbook
The Environmental Law and Policy Center's new Community Wind Financing Handbook explores options for structuring and financing community-based wind power projects. These wind projects are usually 20 MW or less, involve majority local ownership, and retain economic and investment benefits in the community.

Cotterel Wind Farm Opposition Grows
Neighbors of Windland's proposed wind farm in the Cotterel Mountains are expressing concern about the visual impacts of 130 turbines along some 18 miles of ridgeline. Local government officials have stated their support for the project, which would boost the county's tax base. A draft environmental impact statement should be completed by the BLM in next few months.

Montana Electric Co-ops Host Wind Seminar
A free public seminar on interconnecting wind generation to the power grid will take place July 19th in the Duck Inn Olympic Room in Havre. There is no charge for lunch or the seminar, but registration is required by July 14th. Contact Allan at Hill County Electric, 1-877-394-7804.

Oregon Eases Turbine Noise Regulations
Regulations adopted in 1974 required wind farm developers to measure noise under specific conditions before and after installation. The work was expensive and its value questioned by ranchers, farmers and county officials eager to lease acres for wind development. The new rules set a standard level for background noise against which turbine noise will be measured.

First Turbine Erected in Columbia Gorge Scenic Area
A 70-acre apple and pear orchard outside Hood River is now home to a used 22 kW turbine from Denmark, thanks in part to the support of the Energy Trust of Oregon. Apeasay Organic originally wanted to find a clean, affordable energy source to run electric irrigation pumps. The effort has since evolved into a net-metering project with power flowing into the Pacific Power grid.

Whitehall Wind Farm Proposal Withdrawn
A planned 50 MW wind turbine project near Whitehall has been dropped, with developer Navitas and NorthWestern Energy blaming each other for the failure. Navitas won a bid to provide a portion of NorthWestern's renewable energy portfolio, yet disputes over escalating costs and bid renegotiation unraveled the deal.

AWEA Updates Wind Tutorial
AWEA has updated and expanded its Frequently Asked Questions publication, and made it available in a user-friendly tutorial format. The new document provides answers to a broad range of questions about technology, environmental impacts, utility integration of wind, siting and safety, and many other issues.

Ferry County PUD Offers Solar Power Systems to Isolated Residents
Under a new program, possibly unique in the nation, the PUD is offering three different solar power systems to customers in isolated areas where it costs too much to extend conventional electric lines. The utility district will own the equipment and be responsible for maintaining it. Customers will pay the same rate for solar electricity as for regular electricity: 6.16 cents per kwh.

Hawaii Adopts 20% RPS Requirement, Lowers Road Tax for Alt Fuels
A new Renewable Portfolio Standard law in Hawaii is one of the largest RPS measures in the country, requiring at least 8% of power purchases by state electric utilities to come from renewables by the end of next year. The threshold rises to 10% in 2010, 15% in 2015 and 20% in 2020. Another recently adopted measure reduced the state road tax by 25% for alternative fuels, giving biodiesel a total 75% reduction.

Forum Calls for Massive Green Energy Program
Energy experts, politicians and local citizens attending an energy conference in Seattle called for a new 10-year, $300 billion program of tax credits and incentives to boost development of renewable energy resources. Supporters of the program envisioned 20% of America's energy coming from renewable sources by 2020, and identified resources in the Northwest that would drive green energy innovation.

Economics of Renewable Energy Improving
This in-depth analysis finds the success of renewable energy industries is no longer closely tied to oil and natural gas prices. Technological advances, reduced manufacturing costs, and more balanced government subsidies have all contributed to narrowing the price gap.

Energy Producers File Complaints Against Idaho Power
Two wind power projects and a geothermal project in Cassia County have filed complaints with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission alleging Idaho Power is not following federal PURPA contract terms, which require utilities to buy electricity generated by small-power producers at a rate set by the state commission. A public hearing has been scheduled for September 2nd in Boise.

New EPA Funding Guide Issued
EPA's State and Local Capacity Building Branch has released "Funding Opportunities: A Directory of Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, and Environmental Protection Assistance Programs." The directory provides an extensive list of grants available from EPA, other federal agencies, state governments and private foundations.

Clean Energy Funding Solicitations
The Seattle Regional Office of the US Dept of Energy provides an excellent compilation of open solicitations recently announced by foundations and public agencies to support research and implementation of energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable development, and related environmental activities.

ACORE Publishes Renewable Energy Finance Directory
The American Council on Renewable Energy has released a North American Renewable Energy Finance Directory designed to assist project developers and entrepreneurs seeking capital as well as investors looking for financing vehicles. It will contain information on sources of finance for renewable energy and energy efficiency in the United States. A draft is currently available for review.

WA Economic Development Assn Explores Renewables, July 12-13, Bellingham
WEDA's annual conference includes a session entitled "Renewable Energy & Economic Development: Stories from the Field." Presenters will explore biodiesel projects in Lincoln County, assistance for farmer-owned wind power projects, and development of a state solar industrial cluster.

Solar Water Pumping Workshop, Aug 14-15, Carbondale, CO
Solar Energy International is offering a two-day review of pumping terminologies, PV modules, system sizing, and component selection. The workshop will include laboratory exercises on pressure, storage, drip and spray irrigation systems.

Northwest Renewable Energy Festival, Sept 24-25, Walla Walla
Bring the whole family to the 5th annual renewable energy festival at the beautiful Walla Walla Fairgrounds. Learn about renewable energy, energy conservation, and how renewable resources can be implemented today and in the future.

Energizing the Northwest, Sept 28-29, Portland
Utility executives, policy makers, environmentalists, implementers and experts from around the region and the nation will explore innovative ways energy efficiency and transmission adequacy can help maintain the reliability of the electric system and the quality of the environment.