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

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“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
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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.

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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
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Cellulosic ethanol and biomass based diesel
2007- Farm Bill: $1.6 B in renewable energy and energy efficiency-related spending at USDA
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$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):
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Maximize benefits deriving from Federal grants
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Bring coherence to Federal strategic planning
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Co-chaired by senior officials from: DOE, DOT, USDA,
DOD, EPA, NSF

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

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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

 Switchgrass
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?

 Harvesting
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Late October till April.
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Average yield-2500 tons.
 Storage
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6 month average.
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Stored under a cover or in old tobacco barn.
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3 to 6 dollars per ton

 Delivery
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50 mile radius from Winchester.
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10 to 12 dollars per ton to transfer from field to refinery.
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26 bales to truck (or 15 to 16 bales.)
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160 loads daily to refinery.
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14 loads per hour.
 Processing
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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?

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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?

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Agriculture
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Farmers
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Wildlife Conservation
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Soil Conservation
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Landowners
Fuels Market
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Stock Holders
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Fuel Producers
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Gas Companies
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Owners
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Other Bio-fuel Producers
 Other
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Trucking
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Public Transportation
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Contractors
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Developers
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Coal Industry
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Feed Producers
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Vehicle Inspection /
Repair

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Local
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County Officials
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County Extension
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Planning
 Zoning
 Commissions
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Economic Development
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Transportation Cabinet
State / Federal
Agencies
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State Parks
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Transportation
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Energy
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EPA
 Counties: 44 Counties
Including:
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Madison
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Fayette
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Clark
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Rockcastle
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Woodford
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Garrard

300,000
250,000
200,000
150,000
100,000
50,000
0
Population Household Avg. HH Income
Madison
Powell
Clark
Montgomery
Bourbon
Fayette
Estill

35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
F,F,F S,O P,T,M Un-emp.
Madison
Powell
Clark
Montgomery
Bourbon
Fayette
Estill

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Emergency Services

 Environmental
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Environmental Lobbyist
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Environmental Groups
 Kentuckians for the
Commonwealth
 Sierra Club
 Watershed Watch
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Pollution
 Air
 Water
 Land
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Weather Hazards

CRAFT Biofuels Production Project
Target Area Land Use

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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

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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.

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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.
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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.

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BIRD HABITAT
Provides important habitat for a variety of birds (ground dwelling birds), such as Bobwhite Quail

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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.

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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 farmrelated local environmental benefits. http://www.iowaswitchgrass.com/benefits~onfarmbenefit s.html
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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

 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

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

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