Winooski Natural Resources

Conservation District

Winter 2007

What’s New in ReNEWable Energy on the Farm

Historically, as fossil fuel prices rise, so does the clamor for renewable energy. This is at least the second or maybe the third time it has happened in our lifetime but never before has the clamor been so resounding. Reducing fuel costs for any operation is just good business practice and using renewable sources of energy is just good conservation. Across the nation government agencies are signing on for an initiative tagged 25 x ’25. This translates into a goal of having 25% of our energy consumption be from renewable energy sources by the year 2025. Vermont has embraced this initiative at many levels and there are incentive programs, technical resources, and continued research to ensure we meet or surpass that goal.

Biomass

Shelburne Farms has developed a plan to harvest their hay fields, make pellets from the grass and use it to heat their facility. They are growing their own fuel on their pasture land! It is anticipated that they can replace 24,000 gallons of fuel oil, 20,000 gallons of propane, and offset a significant portion of the 675,000 kilowatt hours of electricity they currently consume.

The Vermont Superintendents Association is investigating the use of shell corn to feed a school heating system. Imagine another source of income for farmers who have tillable land but no longer grow corn for milk cows.

Dairy farmers are installing digesters to convert components in their cow manure into methane gas which can then be burned to generate electricity. They are using this energy to run their milk house equipment and lights, and also capture the heat from the generators for preheating. In some cases excess electricity is sold back to the grid for consumption needs off the farm. Your electricity may once have been a pile of cow poop.

Almost 40 schools have applied for funding this year alone to convert their conventional heating system to a biomass or wood chheating plant.

So what does this have to do with conservation? When biomass replaces fossil fuel there is a net reduction in CO2 emissions and that translates into progress towards meeting climate change goals. The Biomass Energy Resource Center is a splendid resource for more information on these initiatives and other work going on around the state (www.biomasscenter.org, 802.223.7772)

Solar and Small Wind

Solar and Small Wind projects are again not new concepts but there is a new generation of technology and a more compe l l i ng i n c e n t i v e program that will certainly move us closer to that 25 by ’25 goal. Last year small wind turbines were installed at dairy farms, schools, and college campuses using $1.5 million in grant money from the department of Energy secured by Senator Jeffords. This project is being monitored to track energy generation and evaluate turbine performance. Check out the Vermont Small Wind Demonst ration Program at www.vtwindprogram.org to learn more about this research. Also, the Vermont Solar and Small Wind Incentive Program provides projects that have been extremely successful. Renewable energy plus boosting the local economy just equals good sense. This is a website you’ll want to visit: www.rerc-vt.org/incentives/index.htm.

Hydropower

Hydropower accounted for about 90% of Vermont’s electricity needs in the 1940’s. Today it represents about 20 to 25% and about half of the power Vermont consumes is imported. At the Energy Summit held in Lyndonville this summer, it was discussed and debated that there is still a large capacity for development of small hydro. In order to further utilize the power of flowing water it may be necessary to make legislative changes to the permitting process. Specifically, exempting small hydro projects from the long and onerous process of review under FERC would improve the economic viability of a small community hydro (less than 5 megawatts). This exemption was already granted to the state of Alaska under the Federal Power Act. Stay tuned to this next legislative session as we could soon see this very productive source of renewable energy open up for Vermont.

EFFICIENCY,   EFFICIENCY,   EFFICIENCY
The underpinnings of any energy plan is efficiency. Efficiency Vermont (www.efficiencyvermont.com, 1-888- 921-5990) runs a superb program specifically geared towards dairy farmers. Energy efficient variable speed pumps, capturing heat from cooling milk and special light bulbs will significantly reduce overall farm energy costs. Efficiency Vermont provides rebates of up to 60% of installed cost on energy efficient equipment AND provides 0% financing! Efficiency Vermont also works with residential and business energy consumers to make their environments energy efficient.

Renewable Energy Vermont (REV) is a clearinghouse of ideas, technology, business contacts and energy policies. Their website provides more information on local programs, vendors, and news items than what can be compressed into these pages. <

The Winooski District is interested in helping our communities and individuals find ways to improve the efficiency of the energy consuming infrastructure already in place and move towards the installation of more renewable energy infrastructure. How can we help you or< your community do this? Call Susan Alexander at 802-229-2720.

Inside…

*  New Chittenden County Conservation Programs

*  Farmer and Forester of the Year Awards

*  Winooski River Watershed Water Quality Update

*  Land Treatment Planning Services for Farmers

*  Winooski Supervisor Vacancy Announcement

*  Annual Tree Sale Information..

We are looking for volunteers and interns!

Please contact Jessica Androletti at 865-7895 x14 for informaiton