By VICKI JOHNSON
Ohio Correspondent TIFFIN, Ohio — Seneca and Wyandot county business and community leaders, as well as interested residents, are invited to attend a pipeline construction issues briefing sponsored by the Seneca and Wyandot County Farm Bureaus at 7 p.m. Nov. 9 at the Youth Center on the Seneca County Fairgrounds.
The program will be facilitated by Dale Arnold, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation director of energy services.
“Long-term energy demand and new drilling technology have sparked interest in tapping into the Marcellus and Utica Shale deposits in parts of the Appalachian plateau, including many areas of eastern Ohio,” Arnold said. “It is estimated that methane and methane liquids in these deposits can address major requirements for fuel for several decades. While farmers and rural residents in eastern Ohio are working with developers to access these resources, many farmers in this area will be working with other service companies to deliver some of these resources to refineries and markets.”
Kinder Morgan Cochin LLC has proposed a 240-mile, 16-inch underground pipeline, which would originate in Marshall County, W.Va., and terminate at an interconnect with the Kinder Morgan Cochin Pipeline in Fulton County. The pipeline would transport a variety of natural gas liquids (ethane, propylene and butylenes) to be refined into other fuels.
“Many folks in the area have a number of questions and concerns,” said Darren Frank, organization director for the county farm bureaus. “Our County Farm Bureau Public Policy Action Team is sponsoring this briefing to help local citizens learn more about the project.”
Arnold plans to discuss energy trends, pipeline construction and remediation standards, the work of the Ohio Power Siting Board, and how landowners impacted by construction, interested residents and local government should be involved in the project. The meeting is open to members and non-members.
Farm energy funds available Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced USDA is providing $6 million in loan guarantees and grants to agricultural producers and business owners across Ohio to enable them to reduce energy use and increase efficiency.
“These loan guarantees and grants will generate and save energy for Ohio’s farmers and businesses for decades to come,” Vilsack said. “Renewable energy systems like the biodigester that generates electricity for this research center are among the many ways USDA is helping the country become more energy independent.”
Funding is authorized through the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (farm bill) and is administered by USDA Rural Development through the Rural Energy for America Program.
Some farm owners have been selected to receive funding to replace grain dryers with energy-efficient models.
Others are installing renewable energy systems. For example, French Creek BioEnergy, LLC has been selected for a $500,000 REAP grant and a $1.65 million guaranteed loan to construct an anaerobic digester that will produce 6.7 million kilowatts of energy annually.
In Harrod, Harding Wind LLC has been selected for a $447,500 REAP grant to install a 500-kilowatt wind turbine. It is expected to generate 1.1 million kilowatts of energy annually. REAP funding can be used for renewable energy systems, energy-efficiency improvements, feasibility studies, energy audits and renewable energy development assistance.
Funding of each recipient is contingent upon the recipient meeting the conditions of the grant or loan agreement.
More details are at www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_ReapResEei.html
Sustainable ag grants available The North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program is accepting grant applications from farmers and ranchers interested in promoting sustainability on their farms.
Grants of $6,000 for individual farmers and $18,000 for groups of three or more are awarded to farmers and ranchers for initiating agricultural sustainability practices on their farm, protecting natural resources, enhancing communities, exploring innovative marketing and boosting profitability. Beginning farmers and youth also may apply. Projects should emphasize research or education/demonstration. The deadline for proposals is Dec. 2. The North Central Region SARE program has funded more than 680 grants worth more than $4.3 million.
For more, visit www.sare.org/NCRSARE/prod.htm or contact Mike Hogan at 330-627-4310 or hogan.1@osu.edu or Alan Sundermeier at 419-354-9050 or sundermeier.5@osu.edu |
