Agriculture Energy - Module 15 - Project Development
Summary
![[creative commons]](/images/creativecommons_16.png)
- Estimated Lecture Hours: 2
- Lab Hours: 1
- Format: PowerPoint
This is Module 15 of 15 of the Agriculture Energy Curriculum that provides non-biased material that puts students in a position to make a decision about the agricultural energy that interests them most, or is most cost effective for their own farms. User Guide is provided. This curriculum was produced by Eastern Iowa Community Colleges.
Learning Goals
Learning Objectives
- Conduct an energy audit of their farm or residence.
- Access and navigate on-line viability study tools to assess their suitability for specific renewable energy projects.
- Identify financing options available from state, local, federal, utility and private sources and know where and how to access current funding opportunities.
- Describe the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) which mandates regulated utility companies to purchase renewable energy power from customers (net-metering)
- Integrate the main lessons of this course and illustrate renewable energy applications and efficiency measures for agriculture.
Description and Teaching Materials
>> Go to Module 15
>> Energy Links and Resources
Please see the User Guide ( This site may be offline. ) for information on how to use this curriculum
Teaching Notes and Tips
Topics Covered
- Energy audits
- Online tools
- Financing options
- Energy policies and regulations
- Renewable energy & efficiency measures
- Summary
Background
There is high interest among the forums in the topic of agriculture-based renewable energy technologies and the need to create jobs that meet energy demands in rural areas. In the last decade, bioscience has become one of the nation's most significant sectors in research and economic activity and grew by 4.6% across the U.S., adding close to 270,000 jobs nationally. Agriculture biotechnology products totaled less than $1 billion in 1995, but grew to $10 billion in 2005. More than 1,100 companies are engaged in Iowa's biosciences industry, employing over 72,000 highly-skilled workers. Some of the most promising biobased products are produced in immense quantities in rural areas.
This project was funded by the New Era Rural Technology Competitive Grants Program (USDA) which makes grants available to community colleges or advanced technological centers, located in a rural area, for technology development, applied research, and training necessary to produce graduates capable of strengthening the Nation's technical, scientific and professional workforce in the fields of bioenergy, pulp and paper manufacturing, and agriculture-based renewable energy resources. Although, focused on Iowa – these technologies cross all geographical regions.
Iowa and Agricultural Energy
Iowa's strengths in animal and plant sciences at its research universities and in the private sector point toward large-scale market potential and development of a bioscience sector. According to the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, Iowa is the nation's number one ethanol-producing state and ranks second in the production of biodiesel, processing more than 400 million bushels of corn into 1.1 billion gallons of ethanol annually and producing over 25% of U.S. biodiesel production. Iowa's biofuels industries have added $8 billion to Iowa's economy, generated $2 billion in new household income, and created 50,000 Iowa jobs. Agriculture households and rural communities have responded to government incentives and have expanded their production of renewable energy, primarily in the form of biofuels and wind power.
References and Resources
>> Energy Links and Resources
References and Resources
>> Energy Links and Resources
Citation
(2013). Agriculture Energy - Module 15 - Project Development . Retrieved from http://www.camelclimatechange.org/view/teachingunit/51cbfa957896bb431f6bd9c8
