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

 Goals and Objectives  Methods  Background Information  Biofuels Production  Policy  Stakeholders - business - government  Wildlife Impacts

 “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  Advanced Energy Initiative (AEI): included increased research funding for cutting edge biofuel production processes.  Early “Twenty-in-Ten” initiative: plan to reduce gasoline consumption by 20% in 10 years.

 Mid Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA): signed in to law by George W. Bush  December Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS): Congressional response to EISA, require 36 BGY of biofuels by 2022  Cellulosic ethanol and biomass based diesel  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.

ANDERSON BATH BOURBON BOYLE BRACKEN BREATHITT CASEY CLARK CLAY ELLIOTT ESTILL FAYETTE FLEMING FRANKLIN GARRARD GRANT HARRISON HENRY JACKSON JESSAMINE LAUREL LEE LEWIS LINCOLN MADISON MASON MENIFEE MERCER MONTGOMERY MORGAN NICHOLAS OWEN OWSLEY PENDLETON POWELL PULASKI ROBERTSON ROCKCASTLE ROWAN SCOTT SHELBY WASHINGTON WOLFE WOODFORD 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 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

 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

CRAFT Biofuels Production Project Target Area Land Use

 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.  Switchgrass also provides the same necessities for mammals as it does land dwelling birds such as cover, food opportunities, and rearing offspring.  It also provides hunting grounds for some land dwelling animals such as the Red Fox and Coyote.

 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 nesting 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, they alter the vegetative cover and soils 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. s.html s.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.

 We attended the annual Wildlife society meeting, ky chapter  94 members attended  Groups were made of 6-8 individuals  Individuals were asked the following 10 questions and their input was recorded as a general group concensus

  1. What habitats, ecosystems, or species do you think would most likely benefit from the growing of biofuels switchgrass? (S)  2. What habitats, ecosystems, or species do you think would have the greatest chance of being negatively impacted by the growing of biofuels switchgrass? (W)  3. What concerns you about the seasonal growing and harvesting of biofuels switchgrass that may affect wildlife in and around these areas? (W)  4. If you had an opportunity to recommend a policy or regulation that could minimize the impact on wildlife by biofuels switchgrass production, what would it be?  5. How might your experience and / or knowledge of environmental systems benefit this project? (O)  6. How might your job change by an increase in biofuels switchgrass production? (S)  7. Potash is considered to be one of the major byproducts of biofuels production that could have environmental impacts. What recommendations do you have to address this threat? (T)  8. Thinking now specifically about the proposed biofuel plant itself, what do you see as the greatest threats to the natural environment in and around the facility? (T)  9. What information sources or other resources to you think is most important that we consult for input into our environmental and habitat assessment? (O)  10. What groups or individuals do you think are most important that we contact for input into our environmental and habitat assessment? 

 The following concerns and suggestions were the most important answers given by the Wildlife Society.  They are listed in descending order from most mentioned to the least.

 Harvest Times: ◦ Loss of Wildlife Habitat ◦ Lack of job dependence (seasonal harvest)  Monoculture ◦ Only One species of grass ◦ Potential for pests to wipe out an entire crop ◦ Lack of diversity for inhabitants/ food source  Potash ◦ Opportunity to use as fertilizer

 Chemical Run-Off ◦ Mass Fertilizers entering the water table ◦ Pollution into streams and soil ◦ Some chemicals used aren’t legal in some states  Request for more research ◦ Transportation of biomass (Is it economically feasible?)