Ag leaders are open-minded on energy options

For people like me, whose connection to agriculture is mostly mediated by grocery stores, it might be hard to see the agricultural community as a group that exemplifies progressive thinking in the area of alternative energy. I know I was skeptical. After all, aren’t environmental activists out in front on this issue? Aren’t farmers and ranchers more conservative in their views?

But in the decade or so I’ve lived and worked in Idaho, and met more folks from the agricultural community, my thinking has, let’s say, matured. Now it seems obvious that these are precisely the folks to engage in thoughtful conversation about our energy future.

Starting today and running through Tuesday, Boise plays host to the 2011 Harvesting Clean Energy Conference at the Center on the Grove (harvestcleanenergy.org). This annual conference rotates around the Northwest and highlights methods, progress and policy related to renewable energy and the agricultural community. I’ve attended two previous HCE conferences and was honored to be asked to serve on the steering committee of this one. From a kickoff keynote by Gov. Butch Otter to presentations on the use of geothermal energy on the farm, the conference promises to be informative, interesting and timely.