The Food and Energy Security Act

Senate debate on its version of the 2007 Farm Bill is expected to begin Nov. 5. Farmers, ranchers, and other ag-business operators as well as community leaders can start planning now their requests for Title IX Energy grants or loans for the following types of farm energy production.

The Farm Bill Energy Title drives investment primarily in the following technologies, which form the basis of the study's analysis and conclusions:

Wind power. A one megawatt (MW) wind turbine, which generates no greenhouse gas pollution, can displace approximately 1,600 metric tons of CO2 each year. [We enjoy 1,030 billion kWhs of wind power blowing through each year.]

Anaerobic Digesters. An average anaerobic digester that processes livestock manure waste can capture methane and generate up to 2,900 megawatt-hours of electricity, thereby potentially displacing about 4,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent annually.

Corn Ethanol. Corn- and grain-derived ethanol has the potential to reduce relative greenhouse gas emissions by 18% to 29% compared with gasoline.

Cellulosic Ethanol. Cellulosic ethanol has the potential to displace 85-90% of the total greenhouse gas emissions associated with gasoline.

Biodiesel. Biodiesel has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 80% compared with petroleum diesel fuel. [Waste Vegetable Oil (WVO) from cafeterias, restaurants, and other meal preparation kitchens can be converted by an organic chemistry process named transesterification to produce BD. Communities from Bristol to Custer can make BD for local use.]

Energy Efficiency. Improving on-farm and rural business energy efficiency can avoid carbon pollution by reducing use of diesel fuel in farm equipment and by reducing electricity, natural gas and propane use.

Biomass and Geothermal. These systems generate thermal energy for heating and cooling purposes, displacing greenhouse gases primarily from natural-gas fired systems.

Solar technologies. The sun generates electric power and thermal energy without pollution.