USDA Approves Biomass Projects

March 22, 2001

USDA has approved four biomass pilot projects for Iowa, Minnesota, New York and Pennsylvania. USDA sought proposals in a Federal Register notice Oct. 20, 2000. These four projects were approved from seven proposals reviewed by State Farm Service Agency Committees in consultation with the Natural Resources Conservation Service and State Technical Committees. Recommendations were then submitted for review by an interagency group of officials from FSA, NRCS, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Forest Service. Additional information is being sought on the other three proposals and, subject to a statutory limit of six pilot projects, those proposals may be approved at a later date.

In Iowa, the Chariton Valley Biomass Project is a cooperative effort to develop warm and cool season grasses (such as switchgrass) as a source of renewable energy. Project partners, agricultural and energy interests, propose to cofire this biomass with coal to generate a sustained supply of 35 megawatts of biomass-derived electric power at Alliant Energy's Ottumwa Generating Station. The grass is grown on CRP acres in southern Iowa.

The Minnesota pilot project will allow hybrid poplar trees to be grown on CRP acreage in the Minnesota River Watershed. The biomass produced from the trees will be used to produce energy in a 50 megawatt Whole Tree Energy power plant in St. Peter, Minnesota. This pilot project will pay farmers to enter into this new agricultural market.

In New York, willow biomass crops and switchgrass will be grown on CRP acreage in the central and western part of the state. The primary markets for the willow biomass are two coal burning power plants and a small university central heating facility. Beyond providing renewable energy, the willow is a new crop for local farmers and will reduce soil erosion and improve water and air quality.

The Pennsylvania Switchgrass Energy and Conservation Project will produce switchgrass on CRP land for sale to a local cooperative's coal-fired fluid-bed combustors. These combustors are ideal for burning alternative fuels.