Geo 325 Land Use and Environmental Planning Service Learning Project, Spring 2010

Geo 325 Land Use and Environmental PlanningService Learning Project, Spring 2010

Goals and Objectives Methods Background Information Policy Stakeholders

- business- government

Wildlife

“The American economy depends on petroleum for transportation, which has created energy security concerns, contributions to climate change, and various other environmental hazards” –National Biofuels Action Plan, Oct. 2008

2006- Advanced Energy Initiative (AEI): included increased research funding for cutting edge biofuel production processes.

Early 2007- “Twenty-in-Ten” initiative: plan to reduce gasoline consumption by 20% in 10 years.

Mid 2007- Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA): signed in to law by George W. Bush

December 2007- Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS): Congressional response to EISA, require 36 BGY of biofuels by 2022

Cellulosic ethanol and biomass based diesel 2007- Farm Bill: $1.6 B in renewable energy and energy

efficiency-related spending at USDA◦$210 M to support loan guarantees for cellulosic

ethanol projects

EPA Policy Act of 2005: Changed U.S. energy policy by providing tax incentives and loan guarantees for alternative energy production

Biomass Research and Development Board (R&D): ◦Maximize benefits deriving from Federal grants◦Bring coherence to Federal strategic planning◦Co-chaired by senior officials from: DOE, DOT, USDA,

DOD, EPA, NSF

The Kentucky 25 x 25 Roadmap Goals:◦ Increase production of renewable energy◦Deliver renewable energy to markets◦Expand renewable energy markets◦ Improve energy efficiency and productivity◦Strengthen conservation of natural resources and the

environment

Purpose statement:To establish a biomass energy crop in Kentucky that will be used for fuel production, striving to create a long-term, sustainable biofuel industry which will be economically profitable and lessen dependence on foreign oil.

ANDERSONBATHBOURBONBOYLEBRACKENBREATHITTCASEYCLARKCLAYELLIOTTESTILLFAYETTEFLEMINGFRANKLINGARRARDGRANTHARRISONHENRYJACKSONJESSAMINELAUREL

LEELEWISLINCOLNMADISONMASONMENIFEEMERCERMONTGOMERYMORGANNICHOLASOWENOWSLEYPENDLETONPOWELLPULASKIROBERTSONROCKCASTLEROWANSCOTTSHELBYWASHINGTONWOLFEWOODFORD

Target Counties Within 50 mi. Radius of Winchester

What type of agriculture is established on the land

through out the 50 m targeted radius?

•How much land is readily available for growing

switchgrass?

•Who are the land owners?

Switchgrass

Harvesting◦Late October till April.◦Average yield-2500 tons.

Storage◦6 month average.◦Stored under a cover or in old tobacco barn.◦3 to 6 dollars per ton

Delivery◦50 mile radius from Winchester.◦10 to 12 dollars per ton to transfer from field to

refinery.◦26 bales to truck (or 15 to 16 bales.)◦160 loads daily to refinery.◦14 loads per hour.

Processing◦Process to diesel in Irvine, KY.

EPA Policy Act of 2005 Changed U.S. energy policy by providing tax incentives and loan guarantees for alternative energy production

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 Created a more aggressive Renewable Fuel Standard

•Federal Legislation• 25x25 in Kentucky: renewable energy initiative backed by businesses, organizations and individuals united by a common interest in making America’s energy future more secure, affordable and environmentally sustainable.

• Includes: 2008 Farm Bill• Positives?

•Incentives for farmers to produce/convert crops into biomass.

•Negatives? •Current farmland is used for cattle production. Is switchgrass economically feasible?

◦ Recovery Act of 2009: an unprecedented effort to jumpstart our economy, create or save millions of jobs, and focus on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the twenty-first century.

Positives? Potential for a ‘green, clean’ environment, less

dependence on foreign nations for our livelihood. Potential holes?

Current research suggests only 30-40 jobs will be created through a switchgrass plant. “Millions” might be a stretch…

•Policy Analysis •Trends in Past Legislation

•Enacted or failed Legislation•Is it a compelling need?•Sponsorship of Legislation

•Effective Counties in a 50 mile radius •TDR Law in Clark County•Urban Service Boundary in Fayette County

•Who can we get to sponsor this bill?•Strategic Alignment

•Does policy align with cultural/wants needs of Kentucky/counties?

Agriculture◦ Farmers◦Wildlife Conservation◦Soil Conservation◦ Landowners

Fuels Market◦ Stock Holders◦ Fuel Producers ◦Gas Companies◦ Owners◦Other Bio-fuel Producers

Other◦ Trucking ◦ Public Transportation◦ Contractors◦ Developers◦ Coal Industry◦ Feed Producers◦ Vehicle Inspection /

Repair

Local◦ County Officials◦ County Extension ◦ Planning

Zoning Commissions

◦ Economic Development◦ Transportation Cabinet

State / Federal Agencies◦ State Parks◦ Transportation ◦ Energy◦ EPA

Counties: 44 Counties Including:◦ Madison◦ Fayette◦ Clark◦ Rockcastle◦ Woodford◦ Garrard

POPULATION STATS

-Total= 81,103-Households= 31,089-Household Income=

$37,732

*Unemployment rate=9.00%

OCCUPATIONS by %

-Farming, Fishing, & Forestry= .76%

-Sales & Office= 26.91%

-Production, Transportation, Material Moving= 17.20%

POPULATION STATS


$30,169

*Unemployment rate= 16.20%

OCCUPATIONS by %

-Farming, Fishing, & Forestry= .64 %



POPULATION STATS


$44,855


OCCUPATION by %



-Production, Transportation, & Material Moving= 20.39%

POPULATION STATS


$36,569


OCCUPATION by %




POPULATION STATS


$40,196


OCCUPATION by %

-Farming, Fishing, & Forestry= 3.73%



POPULTION STATS


$45,873


OCCUPATION by %




POPULATION STATS


$26,922

*Unemployment rate=13.50%

OCCUPATION by %

-Farming, Fishing, & Forestry= 1.16%



Urban Growth Population Growth Labor Forces Recreation Non-Profits Residents Landowners

Healthcare Services◦Emergency Services

Environmental◦ Environmental Lobbyist◦ Environmental Groups

Kentuckians for the Commonwealth

Sierra Club Watershed Watch

◦ Pollution Air Water Land

◦ Weather Hazards

Determine likely environmental harms Determine ways to harvest the land to benefit the

wildlife. Determine ways to produce bio fuels without harming

land/water/air quality. Determine the effects that would occur with the change

from corn, or agricultural animals to the production of switch grass

Take into affect, the endangered animals that surround the farmland that could be effected by the production of switch grass

SOIL/ NUTRIENTS Switch grass provides all of the necessary requirements

for the quail to survive with benefits such as nesting, shelter, roosting, summer and winter cover, cover from birds of prey, and food.

Switch grass contains nutrients that enhance soil.

MAMMAL HABITAT Some animals that would be effected from the

production of switch grass would be widely distributed. Animals such as small mammals, and many varieties of song birds, and game birds.

BIRD HABITAT Provides important habitat for a variety of birds (ground

dwelling birds), such as Bobwhite Quail

HARVEST SEASON According to Iowa State Universities Department of

Agronomy, Single harvest of switch grass that taken four to six weeks or more after its above-ground growth, is killed by frost, and removes less nutrients and reduces fertility needs.

Determine the best times during the season to harvest the switch grass so it does not interfere with the mating times for the birds that inhabit the land.

Determine the migratory patterns, with relation to switch grass harvest.

Determine waterways, creeks, and rivers that would be effected Determine the impact on different species that inhabit the local

water ways. As animals graze forages, they alter

the vegetative cover and soil physical properties of pastureland. These alterations may decrease infiltration of water through the soil which, in turn, increases the amount of surface runoff.

The figure on slide 3 of this presentation was attributed by the Chariton Valley Biomass Project, under farm-related local environmental benefits. http://www.iowaswitchgrass.com/benefits~onfarmbenefits.html

The figure found on slide 4 was found on the “Highlights of Agricultural Research; (Runoff, Erosion, And Water Quality Detriment Evaluated In Grazing Studies. www.ag.auburn.edu/.../fall97/runoff.htm

Documents

Geo 325 Land Use and Environmental Planning Service Learning Project, Spring 2010