Energy Solutions for Small Farms

Biodigesters

• Appropriate Infrastructure Development Group —
  • This page describes biodigestors and how they work as an alternative fuel source.
• Beginners Guide to Biogas —
  • This page developed by the University of Adelaide provides an overview of biogas and how to use it as an energy source.
• Harvesting Clean Energy for Rural Development: A Primer on Biogas in the Northwest United States–
  • This article offers information on installing and operating a biodigester in the Northwest part of the United States.
• National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service: Anaerobic Digestion of Animal Wastes: Factors to Consider–
  • This publication provides an introduction to the technology of bio-gas, digester design considerations, and system costs with discussion of the digestion process, production, uses, and risks. Useful tables and further resources are included.

Biofuels

• National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service —
  • This publication describes biodiesel discussing home biodiesel production including an explanation of the necessary equipment and materials
• Rush to Ethanol: Not All Biofuels are Created Equal–
  • This report analyzes the benefits and costs of industrial biofuels production. It concludes with a call for smaller, cellulosic based ethanol production.

Efficiency

• Alliance to Save Energy —
  • The Alliance to Save Energy promotes energy efficiency to achieve a healthier economy, a cleaner environment and greater energy security. They promote the idea that energy efficiency is the “quickest, cheapest, cleanest way to extend our world’s energy supplies.”
• Efficiency Vermont —
  • The Nation’s first ever efficiency utility has tips on how to improve home, business and farm energy efficiency.
• National Food and Energy Council: Energy Efficient Farm Motors-Technical Brief
  • This bulletin reviews the science and the practical nature of using energy efficient motors on the farm.

Energy Strategy

• Fact Sheet: Energy Independence and Security Act 2007 —
  • This website summarized the Energy independence and Security Act 2007 signed into law by President Bush. The goal of the act is to Improve fuel economy and reduce oil dependence.
• Best Energy Strategy: Small Green and Local, Experts Say —
  • This is an article in Science Daily from September 2007. This article stresses the importance for Americans to move away from LARGE, centralized power and invest in smaller, decentralized generation technologies such as wind and solar. The site also has numerous links to related articles and topics.
• Renewable Energy Policy Project —
  • The renewable energy policy project’s goal is to increase the use of renewable energy technologies by providing information, policy analysis and strategies.
• Freeing the Grid 2007 Report
  • This report offers important information on state specific availability of net-metering, including a ranking of states’ openness to using net-metering.

Financial Incentives

• Farmenergy.org —
  • This portion of the farmenergy.org website describes the financial incentives for investing in renewable energy systems.
• Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency —
  • This website has links to each of the united states describing the financial incentives offered in each state for renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Solar

• American Solar Energy Society: Working toward a sustainable energy future —
  • ASES is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the use of solar energy, energy efficiency and other sustainable technologies in the United States.
• Solar Electric Power Association —
  • The Solar Electric Power Associations goal is to create solutions for the use and integration of solar electric power between utilities, electric service providers and their customers.
• Montana Green Power: Solar in Agriculture–
  • This site offers important information for farmers generally and in particular important energy tips to farmers on the Northern Great Plains of the United States.

Wind

• American Wind Energy Association —
  • The American Wind Energy Association promotes wind energy as a clean source of electricity. They support anyone involved in the industry including wind power project developers, equipment suppliers, parts manufacturers, researchers, etc.
• U.S. Government Accountability Office: Wind Power’s Contribution to Electric Power Generation and Impact on Farms and Rural Communities–
  • This publication provides an assessment of the impact of wind energy on rural areas and farms.

Wood

• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations —
  • This page is entitled “About Wood Energy.” The article describes the widespread use of wood energy and biofuels while stressing the importance of sustainable wood energy systems.
• TechLine: Wood Biomass for Energy —
  • This article by Forest Products Laboratory described the environmental advantages of wood over fossil fuel and describes how it works as an energy source.

Cost Saving Tips

• Energy Conservation Tips that Don't Cost a Thing!
• Energy Investments Under $100
• Energy Investments Under $500
• Energy Investments Under $5,000
• Energy Investments Under $25,000
• Energy Investments Under $100,000
• Energy Investments Under $500,000

Energy Plans

• Success Stories
  • Other Success Stories
  • State Line Farm’s Biodiesel and Ethanol
• More Plans »

Useful Links

• ACEEE- American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy
• DSIRE- Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency
• ELPC- Environmental Law and Policy Center
• CET- The Center for Ecological Technology
• Department of Energy- U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
• More Links »