Geo 325 Land Use and Environmental Planning Service 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  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

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 -Total= 13,811 -Households= 5,387 -Household Income= $30,169 *Unemployment rate= 16.20% OCCUPATIONS by % -Farming, Fishing, & Forestry=.64 % -Sales & Office= 20.64% -Production, Transportation, Material Moving= 33.58%

POPULATION STATS -Total= 35,550 -Households= 14,104 -Household Income= $44,855 *Unemployment rate= 10.50% OCCUPATION by % -Farming, Fishing, & Forestry=.86% -Sales & Office= 24.95% -Production, Transportation, & Material Moving= 20.39%

POPULATION STATS -Total= 25,228 -Households= 10,000 -Household Income= $36,569 *Unemployment rate= 13.10% OCCUPATION by % -Farming, Fishing, & Forestry=.73% -Sales & Office= 25.49% -Production, Transportation, Material Moving= 25.38%

POPULATION STATS -Total= 19,756 -Households= 7,995 -Household Income= $40,196 *Unemployment rate= 9.60% OCCUPATION by % -Farming, Fishing, & Forestry= 3.73% -Sales & Office= 22.58% -Production, Transportation, & Material Moving= 22.40%

POPULTION STATS -Total= 279,044 -Households= 114,079 -Household Income= $45,873 *Unemployment rate= 7.40% OCCUPATION by % -Farming, Fishing, & Forestry=.94% -Sales & Office= 26.07% -Production, Transportation, & Material Moving= 11.07%

POPULATION STATS -Total= 14,975 -Households= 6,212 -Household Income= $26,922 *Unemployment rate= 13.50% OCCUPATION by % -Farming, Fishing, & Forestry= 1.16% -Sales & Office= 19.43% -Production, Transportation, & Material Moving= 30.53%

 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. 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.