Just before I went outside to shovel the “April showers” off the sidewalks, Dakota News Network reported a bit more about the I-29 technology corridor, mentioning “the South Dakota equivalent of California’s Silicon Valley.” The manufacturing and technology corridor development is to stretch from Yankton north to Aberdeen. In addition to the corridor, this eastern area of the state also has some of the best wind power of the nation- classes 4/5/6.
Whether wind development will be done to complement hydropower and power from the coal-fired Big Stone electricity plant has not been mentioned in the media, so one has to assume it hasn't been discussed by the ad hoc working group.
After shoveling and a bit of lunch I did a Google search which found about 291,000 URLs for “silicon valley economic development.” One defined the organization of development we now take for granted as “Silicon Valley” One of the pages had “An industry cluster is a symbiotic, living entity that grows best when nurtured in hothouses of like-minded companies.
"[These] leading clusters call Silicon Valley home
>> Semiconductors
>> Computer & Communications Hardware
>> Electronic Components
>> Software
>> Biomedical
>> Creative & Innovation and
>> Nano-Bio-Info Technology Convergence.”
For an I-29 technology corridor to flourish, it can use this as a proven business model and development structure. The development can adopt and modify the SV industry clusters concept with respect to our region's assets.
An overview of an industry cluster has this information
>> Industry name
>> Profile
>> Changes driving opportunities
>> Where the opportunities are
>> Major labor market trends
>> Silicon Valley Firms
>> Venture Capital Investments
>> Cluster Infrastructure and
>> Detailed Industry Components.
What industry or industries can we seed and grow much like Silicon Valley grew microelec-tronics, computers, and software? What need (actual or latent) can the I-29 technology corridor satisfy as SV meets needs?
This is food for action, not just thought in these times of triple-digit oil prices and $3 billion dollar farm bill programs. There has to be positive cash flow somewhere out there.
A focus on agri-energy in the I-29 corridor would be much like the focus on transistors and other electronic components that served as the foundation for Silicon Valley's successes. Both are regional "fits;" both are "spheres of economic activity" that satisfy needs. In SV's case the needs became "all things digital." I-29 can address energy availability in parallel with meeting needs for foods and fibers.
Showing posts with label rural economic development. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rural economic development. Show all posts
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Harvest wind power; reap rural economic development, Part II
Part II concludes my 1,080 words abstract of the eight-page PDF titled Wind Power: Economic Development for Rural Communities.
p5
Article titled Minwind I and II: Innovative Farmer-Owned Projects Are the Wave of the Future
Article titled Wind Energy Helps Reduce the Pain of Natural Gas Prices
“A utility with both gas and wind plants can use wind energy when it’s available, back off on the gas plant during those periods, and then ramp up the gas plant to maintain total system output when the wind dies down,” DeMeo said. “The savings in gas resulting from the wind plant operation can more than cover the total wind plant costs, and the gas plant can maintain system reliability when the wind is fluctuating or not blowing."
Article titled Wind Energy vs. Conventional Energy
"Wind energy is “homegrown” energy that produces no air pollutants and doesn't take any water" out of aquafers or lakes. Conventional power plants use large amounts of water to generate power from fossil fuels; 4 - 11 gallons of water are used to produce each gallon of ethanol.
"Fortunately [yes, wind is a good thing], South Dakota experiences an estimated 1,030 thousand billion kW hours of wind power each year. For this reason, rural utilities should be looking for ways to diversify their energy portfolios and partner in utility-grade wind power generation."
Sidebar article titled Corn Growers Support Wind Energy
p6
Sidebar article titled Minnesotans Export Crop of the Future to Cities
“There’s no question in our minds that we need to move toward renewable energy, and wind energy development is significant for any community. This is one of the few bright spots in a rural landscape,” said Dave Benson, farmer and county commissioner of Nobles County, Minnesota.
Article titled How Can I Bring Wind Energy to My Community?
Five suggested actions include
--learn more about Section 9006 of the 2002 U.S. Farm Bill and the Value-Added Producer Grant Program, which provide grants and loans for farmers and ranchers who install renewable energy projects. Visit www.usda.gov/farmbill for more information.
[The 2007 U.S. Farm Bill will have a Farm Energy Section and the Value-Added Producer Grant Program as well. Tell your federal representative that this is important legislation.]
Sidebar article & photo of windmill and wind turbine in the same field.
"Making a living on the family farm has never been easy, but harnessing wind energy as the cash crop of the future is a viable way to ease the financial burdens of farmers, ranchers, and rural communities and preserve the rural way of life. "
p7
Description of some of the goals of the U.S. Department of Energy "Wind Powering America" program.
p8
A list of seven sources for additional information, including
--Utility Wind Interest Group, P.O. Box 2671, Springfield, VA 22152, (703) 644-5492, www.uwig.org
A color map of the U.S. wind resource with legend of wind energy density classes of wind speeds measured at 50 m [164 ft.].
Class 5 is "Excellent" wind, having 500 - 600 watts/meter squared of swept area at 16 - 18 mph. "Swept area" is the circular area created by each full revolution of the blades.
A community wind turbine- such as the Fuhrländer FL 100- having a swept area of 346 sq. meters will harvest in SD roughly 173 - 207 kW during every hour of Class 5 wind.
A handful of South Dakota wind
5 PM May 26, WNW at 22 mph
Noon (16) May 26, W at 25 mph
9 AM May 26, WSW at 26 mph
11 PM May 25, SSE at 12 mph
Oldest 6 PM May 25, S at 22 mph
Do contact me if you want to buy any of this blog's content or would like to have other specific content uncovered.
'Til next time. Best Wind.
p5
Article titled Minwind I and II: Innovative Farmer-Owned Projects Are the Wave of the Future
Article titled Wind Energy Helps Reduce the Pain of Natural Gas Prices
“A utility with both gas and wind plants can use wind energy when it’s available, back off on the gas plant during those periods, and then ramp up the gas plant to maintain total system output when the wind dies down,” DeMeo said. “The savings in gas resulting from the wind plant operation can more than cover the total wind plant costs, and the gas plant can maintain system reliability when the wind is fluctuating or not blowing."
Article titled Wind Energy vs. Conventional Energy
"Wind energy is “homegrown” energy that produces no air pollutants and doesn't take any water" out of aquafers or lakes. Conventional power plants use large amounts of water to generate power from fossil fuels; 4 - 11 gallons of water are used to produce each gallon of ethanol.
"Fortunately [yes, wind is a good thing], South Dakota experiences an estimated 1,030 thousand billion kW hours of wind power each year. For this reason, rural utilities should be looking for ways to diversify their energy portfolios and partner in utility-grade wind power generation."
Sidebar article titled Corn Growers Support Wind Energy
p6
Sidebar article titled Minnesotans Export Crop of the Future to Cities
“There’s no question in our minds that we need to move toward renewable energy, and wind energy development is significant for any community. This is one of the few bright spots in a rural landscape,” said Dave Benson, farmer and county commissioner of Nobles County, Minnesota.
Article titled How Can I Bring Wind Energy to My Community?
Five suggested actions include
--learn more about Section 9006 of the 2002 U.S. Farm Bill and the Value-Added Producer Grant Program, which provide grants and loans for farmers and ranchers who install renewable energy projects. Visit www.usda.gov/farmbill for more information.
[The 2007 U.S. Farm Bill will have a Farm Energy Section and the Value-Added Producer Grant Program as well. Tell your federal representative that this is important legislation.]
Sidebar article & photo of windmill and wind turbine in the same field.
"Making a living on the family farm has never been easy, but harnessing wind energy as the cash crop of the future is a viable way to ease the financial burdens of farmers, ranchers, and rural communities and preserve the rural way of life. "
p7
Description of some of the goals of the U.S. Department of Energy "Wind Powering America" program.
p8
A list of seven sources for additional information, including
--Utility Wind Interest Group, P.O. Box 2671, Springfield, VA 22152, (703) 644-5492, www.uwig.org
A color map of the U.S. wind resource with legend of wind energy density classes of wind speeds measured at 50 m [164 ft.].
Class 5 is "Excellent" wind, having 500 - 600 watts/meter squared of swept area at 16 - 18 mph. "Swept area" is the circular area created by each full revolution of the blades.
A community wind turbine- such as the Fuhrländer FL 100- having a swept area of 346 sq. meters will harvest in SD roughly 173 - 207 kW during every hour of Class 5 wind.
A handful of South Dakota wind
5 PM May 26, WNW at 22 mph
Noon (16) May 26, W at 25 mph
9 AM May 26, WSW at 26 mph
11 PM May 25, SSE at 12 mph
Oldest 6 PM May 25, S at 22 mph
Do contact me if you want to buy any of this blog's content or would like to have other specific content uncovered.
'Til next time. Best Wind.
Friday, May 25, 2007
Harvest wind power; reap rural economic development, Part I
Today I'll post half of the 1,080 word abstract of Wind Power: Economic Development for Rural Communities; tomorrow I'll post the second half. Wind Power is an eight-page PDF that has good introductory info about wind farming. A Wind Rush in the Great and Upper Great Plains states is on and now is the time to act.
p1 cover photo
p2 observations on wind power by noted citizens
"We support wind farming as both an alternative income stream for farmers and landowners and an economic development opportunity for rural communities.”
--Dan McGuire, Lincoln, Nebraska – Director of theAmerican Corn Growers Foundation and American CornGrowers Association Wealth from the Wind program
“Who would have guessed that the air above our land might be worth money someday?”
--Larry Widdel, Minot, North Dakota Farmer who leases his land to Basin Electric Power Cooperative
“I had heard some rumblings that wind energy was coming to South Dakota. I asked, ‘Isn’t there any way we can harness this energy and make it work around here?’ And the rest, as they say, is history.”
--Mike Newton, Highmore, South Dakota – Mayor of Highmore, a town that is now home to the 40-MW South Dakota Wind Energy Center [constructed, owned, and operated by FPL Energy, Juno Beach, FL, affiliated with Florida Power & Light Company. Hardly "homegrown"].
p3 Article titled Wind Energy for Rural Economic Development
"It’s tough to make a living on the family farm. In recent years, net farm income decreased as dry conditions in much of the country reduced the forecasted yields of corn, soybeans, and wheat."
"But there is a bright spot on the rural economic development horizon: wind energy."
Sidebar article titled Colorado Green Wind Farm
Article titled Jobs
p4 sidebar article titled The People Want Wind Energy
Article titled Landowner Revenues
"Wind energy offers rural landowners a new cash crop. Although leasing arrangements vary widely, royalties are typically around $2,000 per year for a 750-kilowatt wind turbine or 2% to 3% of the project’s gross revenues. Given typical wind turbine spacing requirements, a 250-acre farm could increase annual farm income by $14,000 per year, or more than $55 per acre."
"In a good year, that same plot of land might yield $90 worth of corn, $40 worth of wheat, and $5 worth of beef. Wind turbines have a minimal effect on farming and ranching operations. The turbines have a small footprint, so crops can be grown and livestock can be grazed right up
to the base of the turbine."
"As Leroy Ratzlaff, a third-generation landowner and farmer in Hyde County, South Dakota, said, 'It’s almost like renting out my farm and still having it. And the cows don’t seem to mind a bit.'”
Sidebar blurb- Wind Power Brings Relief to Rural Texas
"After the Texas legislature passed a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), utilities and wind companies invested $1 billion in 2001 to build 912 MW of new wind power projects."
Article titled Increased Local Tax Base
"Because wind projects are more capital intensive than conventional power plants, property taxes for wind projects are often two to three times higher per unit of energy than conventional plants."
"Seven examples, including Lincoln County, Minnesota: $471,822 in 2003 (155 MW)."
A handful of South Dakota wind-
5 PM May 25, S at 20 mph
2 PM May 25, S at 18 mph
Noon May 25, SE at 13 mph
9 AM May 25, SSE at 8 mph
2 AM May 25, Calm.
Do contact me if you want to buy any of this blog's content or would like to have other specific content uncovered.
'Til next time. Best Wind.
p1 cover photo
p2 observations on wind power by noted citizens
"We support wind farming as both an alternative income stream for farmers and landowners and an economic development opportunity for rural communities.”
--Dan McGuire, Lincoln, Nebraska – Director of theAmerican Corn Growers Foundation and American CornGrowers Association Wealth from the Wind program
“Who would have guessed that the air above our land might be worth money someday?”
--Larry Widdel, Minot, North Dakota Farmer who leases his land to Basin Electric Power Cooperative
“I had heard some rumblings that wind energy was coming to South Dakota. I asked, ‘Isn’t there any way we can harness this energy and make it work around here?’ And the rest, as they say, is history.”
--Mike Newton, Highmore, South Dakota – Mayor of Highmore, a town that is now home to the 40-MW South Dakota Wind Energy Center [constructed, owned, and operated by FPL Energy, Juno Beach, FL, affiliated with Florida Power & Light Company. Hardly "homegrown"].
p3 Article titled Wind Energy for Rural Economic Development
"It’s tough to make a living on the family farm. In recent years, net farm income decreased as dry conditions in much of the country reduced the forecasted yields of corn, soybeans, and wheat."
"But there is a bright spot on the rural economic development horizon: wind energy."
Sidebar article titled Colorado Green Wind Farm
Article titled Jobs
p4 sidebar article titled The People Want Wind Energy
Article titled Landowner Revenues
"Wind energy offers rural landowners a new cash crop. Although leasing arrangements vary widely, royalties are typically around $2,000 per year for a 750-kilowatt wind turbine or 2% to 3% of the project’s gross revenues. Given typical wind turbine spacing requirements, a 250-acre farm could increase annual farm income by $14,000 per year, or more than $55 per acre."
"In a good year, that same plot of land might yield $90 worth of corn, $40 worth of wheat, and $5 worth of beef. Wind turbines have a minimal effect on farming and ranching operations. The turbines have a small footprint, so crops can be grown and livestock can be grazed right up
to the base of the turbine."
"As Leroy Ratzlaff, a third-generation landowner and farmer in Hyde County, South Dakota, said, 'It’s almost like renting out my farm and still having it. And the cows don’t seem to mind a bit.'”
Sidebar blurb- Wind Power Brings Relief to Rural Texas
"After the Texas legislature passed a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), utilities and wind companies invested $1 billion in 2001 to build 912 MW of new wind power projects."
Article titled Increased Local Tax Base
"Because wind projects are more capital intensive than conventional power plants, property taxes for wind projects are often two to three times higher per unit of energy than conventional plants."
"Seven examples, including Lincoln County, Minnesota: $471,822 in 2003 (155 MW)."
A handful of South Dakota wind-
5 PM May 25, S at 20 mph
2 PM May 25, S at 18 mph
Noon May 25, SE at 13 mph
9 AM May 25, SSE at 8 mph
2 AM May 25, Calm.
Do contact me if you want to buy any of this blog's content or would like to have other specific content uncovered.
'Til next time. Best Wind.
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