Tony's Newsletter
Tracking Activities of the Colorado Renewable Energy Forum
From Colorado Working Landscapes, April 18, 2005
Volume 2, Issue 1
The Colorado Renewable Energy Forum (CREF) is an organization of agricultural, energy, financial, legal professionals, local communities, and advocate organizations committed to the development of wind and other renewable energy resources. To be added to or taken off the distribution list for Tony's Newsletter please send an email to frank@workinglandscapes.com.
In this issue:
-Congressman Udall and former Colorado Speaker Spradley to kickoff “Harvesting Energy Tour” April 22-23
-Federal grants for agricultural producers and rural communities
Congressman Udall and former Colorado Speaker Spradley to kickoff “Harvesting Energy Tour” April 22-23
Colorado Farm Bureau and Rocky Mountain Farmers Union invite their members to attend ag-energy forums in northeast Colorado
With support from local Colorado agricultural organizations, Congressman Mark Udall and former Speaker Lola Spradley will lead a two day tour to highlight local, state, and national efforts to expand renewable energy production from agricultural lands. In addition, the Tour will focus on each counties highest potential renewable source such as wind, biomass for energy, and biofuels (i.e. ethanol and biodiesel). It’s being called the Harvesting Energy Tour. It will begin with seven stops in northeast counties on April 22 and 23 (see schedule below). The Tour will extend to other regions of the state in May and June. The Tour is sponsored by the Colorado Farm Bureau and Rocky Mountain Farmers Union and is receiving support from Environment Colorado and Colorado Working Landscapes.
The Tour will highlight how local efforts can support the development of a national initiative to increase renewable energy production from agricultural lands. Colorado organizations and lawmakers have recently drafted resolutions and letters supporting a vision from a national initiative developed by the Ag Energy Workgroup (www.agenergy.info) called “25x’25”. The Workgroup established the following preliminary vision statement: “Agriculture will provide 25 percent of the total energy consumed in the United States by 2025 while continuing to produce abundant, safe and affordable food and fiber.”
Michael Bowman, a farmer near Wray, Colorado is on the Workgroup’s Steering Committee and recently presented at the National Ag Energy Conference in Austin, Texas in February. Also attending were board members and staff from the Colorado Farm Bureau and Ms. Spradley, who provided the closing keynote to the 140 agricultural leaders who attended the event. Mr. Bowman commits his time to the Steering Committee because of the immense potential for rural communities to harness the energy from wind and cultivate transportation fuels from corn and other crops. He added, “Not only does it make sense as energy policy for America, but as important it supports rural economic development for towns like Wray and many others across the Eastern Plains.”
Organizations supporting the 25x’25 vision include the Colorado Farm Bureau and the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union. State Senator Mark Hillman and Representative Wesley McKinley will introduce a resolution in support of the vision later this week. The Larimer Board of County Commissioners will consider a similar resolution on April 19 supporting the vision and directing the County to mobilize local agricultural leaders to support new alternative energy solutions and forge new partnerships for the economic stability of rural Larimer County.
Harvesting Energy Tour Schedule
April 22
8:30-9:30 a.m., Kick-Off event in Fort Collins, at Blue Sun Biodiesel PV Co-op Retail Pump, 225 NW Frontage Road. Speakers include Congress Mark Udall, Lola Spradley, Larimer County Commissioner Kathay Rennels, Jeff Probst (CEO of Blue Sun Biodiesel)
10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Ag-Energy Forum in Greeley, at 4H Hall at Island Grove, 501 North 14th Ave., Greeley, 80631. Main Topic: Biomass. Speakers include Ed Lehrberger (CEO of PureVision), Congressman Udall and Lola Spradley
2:30-3:30 p.m., Logan County, Peetz event (Location TBA). Speakers include Congressman Mark Udall, Lola Spradley
4:30-6:30 p.m., Ag-Energy Forum in Holyoke, at Peerless Theater, 212 S. Enterocean Ave. Main Topic: School District Wind Development. Speakers include Larry Flowers (NREL Wind Technology Center), Jay Clapper (Wray High School Wind Project), Congressman Udall and Lola Spradley
April 23
10 a.m.-12 p.m., Ag-Energy Forum in Fort Morgan, at the Community College Lecture hall, 920 Barlow Rd. Main Topics: Biomass and Wind. Speakers include Larry Flowers (NREL Wind Technology Center), Ed Lehrberger (CEO of PureVision), Congressman Udall and Lola Spradley.
1-3 p.m., Ag-Energy Forum in Akron, at CSU Extension Office Annex Room, 181 Birch Ave. Main Topics: Biomass and Wind. Speaker include Dr. Alan Foutz (Executive Director Colorado Farm Bureau), Ben Way (RMFU), Larry Flowers (NREL Wind Technology Center), Congressman Udall and Lola Spradley.
5-6 p.m., Closing event in Brighton (Location TBA), Speakers include Howard Barnes (USDA Rural Development Office), Congressman Mark Udall and Lola Spradley.
For more information on the Harvesting Energy Tour contact Jared Koch, Colorado Farm Bureau at 303-749-7505 or Ben Way, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union at 303-283-3530.
Federal grants for agricultural producers and rural communities
Below is information on three federal grant programs from the UDSA supporting renewable energy projects and rural economic development projects. The deadlines for each are coming up soon.
Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program (Section 9006)
Purpose: to support agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase renewable energy systems and to make energy improvements.
The grant request must not exceed 25 percent of the eligible project costs. Applications for renewable energy systems must be for a minimum grant request of $2,500 but no more than $500,000. Energy efficiency improvements must be for a minimum grant request of $2,500 but no more than $250,000.
Eligible applicants are limited to agricultural producers and rural small businesses.
Applications due and submitted to the appropriate USDA State Rural Development Office by June 28, 2005.
For more information about this grant opportunity click on the following links: www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/farmbill or http://www.fedgrants.gov/Applicants/USDA/RD/RBCS/RDRB-05-05%26%23032%3BREEEP/listing.html
Value Added Producer Grants
Purpose: to develop strategies to create marketing opportunities and to help develop business plans for viable marketing opportunities. Applicants must limit their proposals to emerging markets. These grants will facilitate greater participation in emerging markets and new markets of value-added products.
Renewable energy projects that are eligible include biodiesel, ethanol, wind energy production and the use of bio-mass to generate energy.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns stated projects with at least 51 percent of project costs dedicated to bioenergy activities will get priority consideration for the grants.
Eligible applicants include independent agricultural producers and producer groups, farmer- and rancher-cooperatives, and majority-controlled producer-based business ventures. Independent producers include agricultural producers, steering committees of producers, and producer-owned corporations and associations who have an ownership interest in the agricultural product subject to the value-added activity.
Matching requirements
Grants up to $150,000; 117 expected number of awards
Applications due by May 6, 2005.
For more information about this grant opportunity click on the following link: http://www.fedgrants.gov/Applicants/USDA/RD/RBCS/RDRB-05-01-VADG/listing.html
Rural Business Opportunity Grants
Purpose: to promote sustainable economic development in rural communities with exceptional needs. This is accomplished by making grants to pay costs of providing economic planning for rural communities, technical assistance for rural businesses, or training for rural entrepreneurs or economic development officials.
Eligible applicants include public body, nonprofit corporation, Indian tribe, or cooperative with members that are primarily rural residents.
Grants up to $50,000.
Applications due in the Rural Development State Office by May 27, 2005.
For more information about this grant click on the following link: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/busp/rbog.htm
Colorado Working Landscapes
Email: information@workinglandscapes.com
Colorado Working Landscapes (CWL) is a landowner-driven coalition of interests dedicated to the advancement of public policies and private initiatives to conserve land, preserve and sustain agriculture, and enhance landowner values while recognizing public benefits.