1 Sustainable Communities Leadership Summit North Little Rock, AR October 16, 2013.
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Transcript of 1 Sustainable Communities Leadership Summit North Little Rock, AR October 16, 2013.
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Sustainable Communities Leadership SummitNorth Little Rock, AR
October 16, 2013
The 25x’25 Vision
By the year 2025, America’s farms,
ranches and forests will provide 25 percent of
the total energy consumed in the U.S. while continuing to
produce safe, abundant and affordable food,
feed and fiber.
We will meet the 25x’25 goal by:
Producing transportation fuels
Harnessing wind energy
Converting biogas emissions
Capturing solar energy
Providing biomass for generating heat and power
Sustainability
25x’25 Definition:Renewable energy production must conserve, enhance and protect natural resources and be economically viable, environmentally sound and socially acceptable
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration
2012 Total Energy Consumption: 95.10 Quad BTU
2012 Renewable Energy Consumption: 8.825 Quad BTU
America’s Mega ChallengesNational Security Economy
Environmental Health
Local Challenges Require Local Solutions
Education and workforceTransportation and infrastructurePopulation lossRevenues
Solutions from the Land Vision
“In 2050, U.S. farmers, ranchers, and foresters manage land to produce the food, fiber and energy needed to support a growing population and economy, while simultaneously improving biodiversity and the health of our environment.”
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Outcomes:
• By understanding the challenges that communities are facing and thinking strategically about future growth and development, rural decision-makers can direct growth in a way that benefits the community while preserving its rural heritage and traditions.
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Management Challenges for Rural Communities
Loss of working lands vs commercial development
Declining investments in research, extension and innovation
The changing climate Managing risks, market volatility, and multiple
demands
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Reaching the SFL Vision
Short term- we need to promote integration, and implementation of the best solutions that we have.
Long term- we need appropriate policies, investments, research and development, markets and measurement tools in place in order to ensure that resources are optimized – we have to do more with less.
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“The policies and practices of the past will not meet the needs of tomorrow”
Biomass for Bucks: The Show Me Energy Cooperative
• First producer-owned biomass cooperative in the US• Producers pool resources to produce bioenergy
feedstocks while improving the local economy and ecology
• Produces plant materials that can be turned into fuel and power
• Hands farmers a new revenue stream while simultaneously ensuring marginal lands remain ecologically healthy
• Produces the first “advanced biomass” pellets recognized by the USDA
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Generating Dollars in the Wind: Illinois Rural Electric Cooperative
• First cooperative to install community-scale wind in IL• Installed a 1.65MW turbine to offset coal-fired power
purchased from outside service area• Meets 5% of demand• Helps stabilize local energy needs with an emissions
free resource
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Capturing the Sun: Wampler’s Farm Sausage Co.• The Tennessee company has been a pioneer in solar investment since
2009• Over 500 kilowatts installed• Panels came from an in-state manufacturer and installed by an in-state
contractor• Leveraged grants from USDA and TVA• Company founder say sustainability does not mean having to choose
between a healthy environment and profits• Now investing in a bioenergy system
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Farm to Fuel: Local Crops to Biodiesel
• Launch of a mini-biorefinery in Dewitt, Arkansas – October 29• Demonstrate how rural communities can generate, market and utilize
biodiesel from local energy crop feedstocks• Goal is to replicate the model across the state and region• Local farmers supplying feedstocks to local facilities creating fuel for the
local community
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3 billion gallons of biofuels
51.2 billion kwh of electricity
While creating 119,000 new jobs and $16 billion in economic activity
By 2025, Arkansas’s farms, forests and ranches can annually produce:
Source: 25% Renewable Energy for the United States by 2025: An Analysis on Jobs Created By Meeting This Goal; UT Bio-Based Energy Analysis Group
The Path Forward• The road to a new energy future is rarely
straight; must deal with dips, turns & washouts
• Do we stay the course or find a new way?
• Must give attention to the driving forces shaping energy policy today; How do we engage opposition and each other going forward?
Please join us in bringing the vision of 25x’25 to life.
www.25x25.org