A 100% pop up event for clean energy kicked off a nationwide campaign calling for making renewable energy accessible and affordable for everyone – 100%. The campaign is the brainchild of actors Mark Ruffalo and Leonardo DiCaprio. “100% is for 100%,” said Mark Ruffalo, co-founder of the campaign. “Our first priority is to make clean energy more accessible and affordable … Read More
Cargill Tests Tesla Battery App
Last Friday Tesla made a big battery storage and product announcement that is changing the landscape of renewable energy storage. The technology is already being tested by the beef industry. Cargill and Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) will be installing the technology and Cargill’s Fresno, California beef processing facility. According to Tesla, the technology will reduce energy costs by storing … Read More
Animal Waste Part of NC's $4.8 Bil Clean Energy Economy
Some people might think that animal waste is pretty dirty. But in North Carolina, where animal agriculture is huge, it’s part of the state’s $4.8 billion clean energy industry. This news release from the NC Sustainable Energy Association (NCSEA) says growing success in the biomass sector, with animal waste, poultry litter-to-energy and swine-waste-to-energy projects serving as key drivers for clean … Read More
Poultry Industry Eyes Solar-Diesel Hybrids
The poultry industry in Saudi Arabia is looking to reduce fuel costs and increase energy efficiency with solar-diesel hybrids. The industry believes it could greatly benefit from using solar-hybrid generators replacing traditional diesel generators. The technology was discussed in Riyadh leading up to the Desert Solar Saudi Arabia conference. “Hybrid solar-diesel systems are an effective solution to provide power to … Read More
Biogas Opportunities Roadmap for Dairy Farms
The White House on Friday released a Biogas Opportunities Roadmap highlighting the economic and environmental benefits and potential for biogas systems in the U.S. According to the Roadmap, biogas systems offer a wide range of potential revenue streams, growing jobs and boosting economic development for communities, businesses and dairy farms. The systems work by recycling organic material — including cow … Read More
Dairy Industry Applauds White House Strategy
America’s dairy farmers, cooperatives, processors, manufacturers, and other industry leaders applaud today’s announcement by the White House of a Biogas and Energy Roadmap to reduce methane emissions from agriculture. In its announcement, the White House formally cited the work of the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy’s Sustainability Council, whose efforts in part include a partnership with the U.S. Department of … Read More
Dairies to See More Opportunities to Turn Waste to Energy
The U.S. Department of Agriculture extends the deadline on a program that could see more farmers, especially those in the dairy industry, turning livestock waste into energy. The deadline to submit for funds under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and Dairy Industry Memorandum of Understanding has been extended to to May 31, 2013. During a teleconference moderated by … Read More
ISU Seeks Input on DDGs
Iowa State University is conducting a survey of livestock producers use of feed-related co-products from ethanol production (distillers grains). The survey is focused on the beef, dairy, swine and poultry sectors. It is being funded by a coalition consisting of the Renewable Fuels Association, the Distillers Grains Technology Council and the Corn Utilization Councils from Iowa, Illinois and Nebraska. “The … Read More
USDA and Dairy Industry Renew MOU
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack today renewed a historic agreement with U.S. dairy producers to accelerate the adoption of innovative waste-to-energy projects and energy efficiency improvements on U.S. dairy farms, both of which help producers diversify revenues and reduce utility expenses on their operations. The pact extends a Memorandum of Understanding signed in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2009. “Through this renewed commitment, USDA … Read More
Healthy People, Healthy Product's and A Healthy Planet
The National Association of Farm Broadcasting’s annual Trade Talk brought together agricultural journalists and leading agricultural companies to discuss industry issues. The dairy industry was well represented and I took the opportunity to talk with a representative from the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. Laura Mandell serves as the Vice President in Sustainability Communications, she shared with me how the … Read More