2007 Harvesting Energy Summit:
Rural Prosperity through Renewable Energy
Feb 26-28, 2007
Salt Lake City, Utah
The excitement ran high about the potential for renewable energy development to dramatically boost the fortunes of rural areas at the 2007 Intermountain Harvesting Energy Summit in Salt Lake City, Utah.
As more than 185 leaders from Utah, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and Wyoming gathered, several themes became clear.
The ethanol boom is intensifying as the three “Es’’ of economic development, energy security and the environment join to bring urgency to a transformation in fueling the nation. Also growing urgent are efforts to find feedstocks other than corn which are more suited to the arid west. A transition from today’s ethanol plants to tomorrow’s cellulosic plants using feedstocks such as wheat straw and switchgrass is still challenged by economic factors. But it is starting – not just in the U.S. but around the world. Equally promising is the budding biodiesel boom, with feedstocks ranging from algae to cooking oil gaining traction.
In the past year, the public policies that will enable renewable energy development have grown more favorable in much of the Intermountain West, with renewable energy portfolios, transmission initiatives and efficiency standards growing in popularity. More favorable policies also show promise on the federal level, with many advocates optimistic that opportunities for expanding renewable energy will be included in the 2007 Farm Bill. During the summit, the 25 x ’25 movement released its final implementation plan detailing how to obtain a quarter of the nation’s total energy from farms and forests by 2025. Calling for a federal outlay of roughly $13 billion a year to achieve the goal, coordinator Ernie Shea noted, “business as usual is a train wreck waiting to happen.’’
With wind energy’s proven ability to rejuvenate struggling rural economies, a major issue is the constrained equipment marketplace. One speaker called it “ a big boy’s game,’’ with large companies often making purchases three years in advance. Policies to enable smaller wind projects to compete were the subject of much discussion. Texas, with 2768 MW of installed capacity, offers lessons to other states in developing wind power.
Please enjoy the wealth of information presented at the summit by clicking on the links below, which will take you to presentations on each topic area.
Utah Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert addressed
the IHEN summit dinner.
PUBLIC POLICY TO ADVANCE RENEWABLE ENERGY
WIND FOR RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
