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Working with
farmers, ranchers and rural communities to produce clean energy
March 2004 – Special Conference Edition | Archive
Welcome to this special edition of the Harvesting Clean Energy eNews Bulletin highlighting our fourth Harvesting Clean Energy Conference, held in Portland this past January 20-21 in conjunction with the 90th annual Northwest Food Processors Association Convention. Presentations from the conference can be downloaded in PDF format at: www.harvestcleanenergy.org/conference/agenda.htm. "I can feel the energy in this room, and it's all about agriculture," said Katy Coba, director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture, as she welcomed participants to the fourth annual Harvesting Conference. "The bottom line is finding new ways to put revenues into our producers' hands." Joining Coba in making opening remarks were Oregon Department of Energy Director Michael Grainey, Oregon Farm Bureau President Barry Bushue, US Rep. Greg Walden, and state Rep. Jeff Kropf, chair of the Oregon House Agriculture and Forestry Committee. [Read more...]
Innovative
approaches to clean energy marketing, community ownership models,
and exciting technological advances were highlights of the recent
Harvesting Conference. Colorado's Delta-Montrose Electric Association
has an innovative plan for siting new energy production technologies
at customer homes or businesses. "In rural areas it will change the whole way we do business," said
DMEA General Manager Dan McClendon. Advances in biodigestion
of organic wastes pioneered by Energy Northwest offer exciting
opportunities for dairy and related industries. [Read More...]
Oregon
Governor Ted Kulongoski gave a keynote presentation before a
joint luncheon of the Harvesting Clean Energy Conference and
Northwest Food Processors Association. Kulongoski stated a key
goal of his vision for sustainable development is, "harvesting more clean energy and putting that energy to work for farmers, food processors and a regional economy that can be – and will be – the
envy of the world." [Read More...]
Passage
of the Production Tax Credit for wind power, regardless of what
happens to the now stalled Energy Bill, was predicted by key
congressional aides in a Town Hall meeting at the Harvesting
Conference. "If there is not an Energy Bill passed, we hope to move the PTC separately. There is an opportunity to forge a bipartisan alignment," said
Judy Olsen, Eastern Washington field director for Washington
Sen. Patty Murray. [Read More...]
Opinion: Growing Energy on the Farm Good Idea for Ag Industry
In a January 9th guest column in the Capital Press,
Oregon Department of Agriculture Director Katy Coba and Oregon
Farm Bureau President Barry Bushue remarked, "Renewable energy is a good fit for the agricultural industry – not
that the idea is new. Renewable energy technology has been around
for centuries (windmills, water wheels, etc.). But we haven't
yet matched today's technologies with the resources in ways
that fit today's economy." [Read More...]
Five turbines are now online in Washington and Montana thanks to
a new cooperative promoting rural energy independence through distributed,
small-scale wind power. Our Wind Coop hopes
to have five more turbines installed later this summer. Participating
members are exploring opportunities to collaboratively market "Green Tags" generated
by their turbines to fund a low-interest revolving loan to assist
with future members with turbine acquisition and installation
costs. Visit www.ourwind.org to learn more!
HCE Work Groups Focus on Biofuels Marketing, Biomass Projects
Work Groups set up under the Harvesting Clean Energy Network are exploring opportunities to enhance incentives and remove barriers to rural clean energy development in the Northwest. The Biofuels Work Group has been the most active, focusing on regional production and market-building for biodiesel and ethanol. The Biomass Work Group is preparing profiles of biopower projects for the Harvesting website, and supporting a bioenergy inventory for the region. If you'd like to become involved in the Work Groups, drop a note to Harvesting Coordinator Peter Moulton or call (360) 352-1763 ext. 104.
Based in Washington DC, the nonprofit Environmental and Energy Study Institute provides a variety of timely and insightful publications for the agricultural and clean energy communities, including status reports on Farm Bill implementation, bioenergy fact sheets and a regular newsletter. Visit their website and see for yourself!
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