Harvesting Clean Energy
A huge new agricultural market for clean energy products is within reach, opening tremendous opportunities for rural economic renaissance. Bioenergy, windpower and other renewable energies are emerging as competitive solutions to the growing problems of fossil fuels – volatile and rising prices, insecure overseas supplies and climate-disrupting pollution. A niche producer of clean energy today, agriculture could grow to supply 20-25 percent of U.S. energy needs over the next two decades. The reports in this section highlight these topics.
Community Wind 101: A Primer for Policymakers
September 2008
A new model for wind development is emerging – community wind – in which local ownership plays a major role. Rural landowners, consumer-owned utilities, school districts, colleges and native tribes are putting installations on the ground ranging from single turbines to wind plants with hundreds of megawatts of capacity. Community Wind 101 is intended as a primer on community wind for policymakers and clean energy advocates, based on a survey and synopsis of the best literature in the field. Download the report.
Energizing Rural America: How Renewable Electricity Standards Generate Rural Economic Prosperity
July 2007
A niche producer of clean energy today, agriculture could grow to supply 20-25 percent of U.S. energy needs over the next two decades. Study after study has concluded that spurring the production of renewable electricity will provide significant benefits for rural America. Economic models project significant increases in jobs, business activity and local tax revenues as a result. This report highlights these key findings. Download the report.
The New Harvest: Biofuels and Windpower for Rural Revitalization and National Energy Security.
November 2005
America’s rural landscape is the place to substantially address both rural economic and national energy challenges. Clean energy development produces new income streams for farm communities and, by displacing oil and natural gas imports, improves U.S energy security. Renewable electrical power generated by wind farms and clean biofuels derived from crops, now just niche players in the U.S. energy picture, can provide a
significant share of American energy demands. Download the report.
Farm Groups Pushing for Renewable Energy Standards
August 2004
Across the nation, regional and state farm organizations are actively engaged in the push for state renewable energy and fuel standards. Already, sixteen states have enacted standards to grow markets for renewable electricity. Farm organizations, by representing the common voice of agriculture, have tremendous influence that can make all the difference in growing the renewable energy economy. Download the report.
