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Public Meetings to Discuss Renewable Energy
By
Carol L. Spence
LEXINGTON, Ky., (Aug. 22, 2007) – The subject of renewable
energy is on many people’s minds during these days of rising oil
prices and concerns about global warming. The Kentucky Rural
Energy Consortium will sponsor three public forums to discuss
ideas for a renewable energy plan for Kentucky.
“These meetings are a great opportunity for people to obtain
information and also have input into the process,” said Rich
Gates, UK biosystems and agriculture engineer who conducts
research on renewable energy sources. “The College of
Agriculture is very interested in what our stakeholders have to
say on this, and as core members of KREC we’re interested to
hear their ideas and perspectives.”
Kentucky has joined 20 other states in supporting the national
25 x ’25 Initiative. According to the U.S. Department of Energy,
the goal of the initiative is that by the year 2025 “America’s
farms, ranches and forests will provide 25 percent of the total
energy consumed in the United States while continuing to produce
safe, abundant and affordable food, feed and fiber.” KREC and
its partners, one of which is the University of Kentucky, are
working to develop a plan for Kentucky to meet that goal.
Jimmy Henning, associate dean for extension in the UK College of
Agriculture, said Kentucky is well positioned to become
competitive in renewable energy development, particularly when
talking about cellulosic biofuel production, which includes
forage crops and forestry products.
“A lot of our land obviously is suitable for forages and wood
products, but not for row crops. We won’t grow corn well in
eastern Kentucky, so that’s not going to be our advantage,” he
said. “But in terms of the renewable fuels effort relating to
the cellulosic type, we’re very competitive.”
Producing renewable energy is not only good for the environment;
it can be good for Kentuckians’ wallets. Henning said it would
make Kentucky more energy self-sufficient.
And because it involves a renewable resource, there would be
economic benefits to some areas of Kentucky that, at the
present, don’t lend themselves to intense agriculture.
“If you look at what’s happening to agriculture post tobacco
buyout, you’re looking at intensive agriculture moving to the
west. And then what are the economic opportunities for eastern
Kentucky?” he said. “If this comes in, you’re talking about
significant economic benefits to areas that have been really
negatively affected by the loss of competitiveness in tobacco
production.”
Each of the three public meetings will be held in a town hall
format, which will allow for an open exchange of information and
ideas.
“These are an important component in our objective of developing
an energy roadmap for Kentucky’s contribution to the 25 x ’25
plan,” Gates said.
The roadmap team includes the Governor’s Offices of Energy
Policy and Ag Policy, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, UK
College of Agriculture, the University of Louisville and other
KREC partners. They expect to complete the roadmap report by
December 2007.
Meetings are scheduled for Monday, Aug. 27 from 4:30 to 7 p.m.
EDT at the Frankfort Convention Center, Tuesday, Sept. 18 from 1
to 4 p.m. EDT at the Center for Rural Development in Somerset
and Tuesday, Oct. 16 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. CDT at the UK Research
and Education Center in Princeton.
For registration information, visit
http://www.kppc.org or call
502-852-0965. |
Contact: Rich Gates, 859-257-3000, ext.
213
Jimmy Henning, 859-257-4302
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The UK College
of Agriculture, through its land-grant mission, reaches across
the commonwealth with teaching, research and extension
to enhance the lives of Kentuckians. |
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