A new purpose and intent

Former Senators Bob Dole (R-KS) and Tom Daschle (D-SD) released New Markets for American Agriculture, a report by the 21st Century Agriculture Project, sponsored by the Bipartisan Policy Center. The report highlights investing in biofuels and wind farms to provide farmers and ranchers with new and diversified sources of income.

The report addresses ways to improve economic prospects for agricultural producers with a focus on clean energy development.

Amidst these many challenges, lay many opportunities, for a strong agricultural sector is a pillar of America’s growing economy

• providing a secure domestic food supply
• helping to reduce our dependence on foreign oil
• generating renewable energy
• increasing exports and
• providing needed income to rural communities.

USDA identified those clean energy types that people in rural America can develop for meeting local and/or national needs

• anaerobic digestion (Methane Recovery)
• biogas
• biofuels production
• biodiesel
• solar biomass
• geothermal
• solar electric power
• thermal conversion
• waste vegetable oil (WVO) for biodiesel production and
• wind power.

With the price of a barrel of crude oil at $110 or so, these energy types can be put to work generating electricity or replacing some petro-diesel with biodiesel.

WVO disposal is a problem where ever food is made for the public in cafeterias, restaurants, pubs, and the like. Individuals can recycle used cooking oils into biodiesel for small- and medium-sized engines. This can make a difference in getting things done or paying more every year to get those things done. We can act or we can have some cheese with our whine.

The methods, processes, equipment, and experts are on the Web. Perhaps at one time the doing was cheaper than today, but it has never been easier. Energy production is perennial practice that will complement existing ag production.

One example
"Spray-On Solar-Power Cells Are True Breakthrough," Stefan Lovgren, National Geographic News, January 14, 2005.

"Scientists have invented a plastic solar cell that can turn the sun's power into electrical energy, even on a cloudy day."

"The plastic material uses nanotechnology and contains the first solar cells able to harness the sun's invisible, infrared rays. The breakthrough has led theorists to predict that plastic solar cells could one day become five times more efficient than current solar cell technology."

"With further advances, the new plastic "could allow up to 30 percent of the sun's radiant energy to be harnessed, compared to 6 percent in today's best plastic solar cells," said Peter Peumans, a Stanford University electrical engineering professor, who studied the work."

"At a current cost of 25 to 50 cents per kilowatt-hour, solar power is significantly more expensive than conventional electrical power for residences."