2008 ACEEE Forum on Energy Efficiency in Agriculture: Program & Presentations

Wednesday | Thursday | Friday

Printable Program

Plenary: Regional Round-Up: Energy Challenges and Opportunities for Agriculture

Perspectives from around the U.S. on the intersection of energy and agriculture will illuminate the work being done on a regional level to meet the challenges posed by increased demand for energy. Presenters will share their on-the-ground experiences with integrating the sometimes conflicting needs of the agricultural and energy communities.

Ia—Energy Efficiency and Biofuels: A National Policy that Makes Sense?

Peak oil is just around the corner and America needs to find an energy source that is efficiently produced and viable to meet its agricultural needs. Current state and federal policies have started a veritable bonanza in ethanol production.  However, the rush to ethanol has largely ignored questions such as whether biofuels can be produced efficiently, or is the net energy balance of biofuels at or near zero?  This panel will explore whether biofuels can produce an efficient alternative.

Ib- Successful 9006 Energy Efficiency Grant Applications

The 2002 Farm Bill created the Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program, also known as "Section 9006." This successful program provides grants and loan guarantees and has spurred hundreds of new clean energy projects in nearly every state. Expanded funding for 2008 provides new opportunities to directly implement clean energy technologies. Our panelists will provide an introduction and tips for successful applications.

Ic—Food Miles

How well does the concept of food miles capture the energy and carbon implications of U.S. food systems?  This session will explore the conceptual and methodological development of the concept of food miles and discuss what we've learned about the energy implications of local, organic, and conventional food systems.

Role of Agriculture in Achieving Energy Independence

Several states have recognized the increasing importance of energy use and supply to their economy. In particular, Iowa and Wisconsin, two states with few conventional energy sources, recently established Offices of Energy Independence that report to their respective governor's office. Representatives from these offices will outline key strategies to achieving greater energy

Session IIb—Managing Energy in Crop Production Systems

Modern agriculture is heavily dependent on fossil fuels. This panel will explore innovative ways to manage energy on farms, including both energy efficiency measures and ways to incorporate renewable energy into farming operations.

Session IIc—Animal Waste to Biogas - Can this be a Significant Energy Resource for the Nation? (Panel Discussion)

A brief overview of animal waste-based biogas production using anaerobic digestion technologies will be followed by an open discussion with the moderator. Audience questions will be encouraged.  Topics of discussion will include technology, economics, environmental benefits, technical potential and policy support for converting agricultural waste products into various forms of useful energy while reducing odors and greenhouse gas emissions.

Session IIIa—Economic Development: The Role of New Energy Sources and Efficiency

How do energy and the economy relate to one another? This session will explore the link between energy and the economy, the economics of new energy production, and a hopeful long-term path for energy and economic development.

Session IIIb—Carbon Markets for Agriculture

This session will provide an overview of potential revenue streams from agricultural carbon offsets including minimum till farming, managed rangeland, and methane trapping.  In addition, the session will provide details for trading credits today on the Chicago Climate Exchange and future tools being developed to support farmers with this emerging market opportunity.

Session IIIc—On-Farm Energy Strategies and Innovations: Growing Plants and Programs

Recognition of ACEEE 2007 Exemplary Agricultural Program Award Winners

Public Policy Drivers for Energy Efficiency in Agriculture

Public policy both at the state and federal levels is critically important to the level of energy efficiency investments made in the agricultural sector.  This session will explore current as well as potentially new state and federal energy efficiency policies affecting American agriculture.

Session IVa—Producing On-Site Biofuels Efficiently: How to Produce Biofuels on the Farm for On-Site Consumption

Session IVb—Farm Energy Audits

This session will explain what farm energy audits are, define some challenges to implementing energy audits, and discuss some tools and funding opportunities to help more farmers benefit from energy efficiency audits.

Session IVc—Produce Local, Consume Local

When we speak of local ownership or buying local, what do we really mean and in what ways does localness matter—and not matter—to the public and to policy makers? This session will address concerns about the implications of the local food movement, where we are lacking in infrastructure and how we can grow this movement sustainably.

Va—Rural Cooperatives and Agricultural Energy Efficiency

Rural Electric Cooperatives (RECs) provide power to agricultural members across America, serving 75% of the land mass. As not-for-profit, member-owned organizations, RECs are guided by core values that include a commitment to service, and have a long history of assisting their members in electrical energy efficiency. This session will features tools and programs being used by RECs at the national, regional and local level.

Session Vb—Energy Crops: Environmental and Ethical Limits
To what extent can new forms of bioenergy meet US and world energy needs?  This session will explore the possible environmental and social limits we will encounter as we begin exploiting the full bioenergy potential of our agricultural lands.

Next Steps: Ideas for a More Energy-Efficient Food System

The closing session will feature feedback and discussion by conference participants regarding what they have learned during the conference and ideas for future action in the following six areas: farming, on-farm energy production, carbon sequestration, food processing, food transportation, and consumer behavior.