2011 Energy Year

2011 Energy Year. I’m Greg Martin as Line On Agriculture presents the Harvest Clean Energy Report.

2011 was a year for gaining ground on NW Clean Energy projects. Let's look back at a few of the highlights.

Idaho Governor Butch Otter addressed the Harvesting Clean Energy conference in October with a positive message- efficiency is the low hanging fruit in our energy orchard. Now is the time to pick it.

The burgeoning biofuels industry was hot this year, from seed oil growers increasing acreage to an initiative by Boeing and Alaska air to create NW produced aviation bio-fuels. On November 9th, Alaska Airlines launched the first commercial, biofuel-powered regularly scheduled flight service in the United States. The maiden flight carried bio-fuel advocates from Seattle to the other Washington to make their case.

Pendleton, Oregon earned its stripes as Solar City USA. Pendleton completed a second round of solar projects on homes and businesses. The city public works department under Bob Patterson has also been steadily increasing efficiency for water and sewer systems. Their successes led to a steady stream of official visitors from other towns coming to learn about Harvesting Clean Energy.

Cascade Community Wind completed its first community-supported wind turbine in Washington state. The turbine started selling electricity to Puget Sound Energy this past summer. The 'First Up!' turbine project boasts a remanufactured Vestas turbine with 30-foot blades atop an 80-foot tower located near Thorp, which is northwest of Ellensburg. The turbine produces enough electricity to power about 45 homes.

And 2011 ended on a high note with the groundbreaking on Rainier Biogas, 10 years in the planning, this anaerobic digester will serve 4 family dairy farms in Enumclaw WA. The Farm Power project shows that permitting a renewable project takes tenacity and patience in equal measure.

According to Climate Solution's Clark Gilman,"Energy projects on farms and rural businesses are one way we can each contribute to an economic recovery. Renewable energy is shaping up to be another technology where farmers will show the way to the rest of the country. "

For additional information on clean energy, visit harvestcleanenergy.org. That’s today’s Line On Agriculture. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.

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