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Perennial Biomass and Cover Crops in the Upper Sangamon River Watershed

Agricultural Watershed Institute. Perennial Biomass and Cover Crops in the Upper Sangamon River Watershed . Steve John Agricultural Watershed Institute sfjohn@agwatershed.org GLBW Conference October 16, 2012. The Upper Sangamon River Watershed.

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Perennial Biomass and Cover Crops in the Upper Sangamon River Watershed

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  1. Agricultural Watershed Institute Perennial Biomass and Cover Crops in the Upper Sangamon River Watershed Steve John Agricultural Watershed Institute sfjohn@agwatershed.org GLBW Conference October 16, 2012

  2. The Upper Sangamon River Watershed Lake Decatur has sediment and nitrate problems. The City supports watershed conservation efforts to protect the lake.

  3. Lake Decatur Watershed • 925 square miles • 87% row crops • Tile drainage • Sediment & nutrients addressed by: • Dredging • IX Treatment • Watershed management Map credit: ISWS

  4. The Local Bioenergy Initiative A collaborative project to begin growing and using perennial biomass crops in Central Illinois

  5. The Local Bioenergy Initiative • LBI Vision Statement: • Make the Lake Decatur Watershed a national showcase for perennial crops grown for both renewable energy & enhanced water quality. • Sustainable Decatur Plan – Year 2020 Indicators: • 10,000 acres of perennial energy crops • 75,000 tons/year of biomass used or exported

  6. The Local Bioenergy Initiative Perennial Biomass Crops • Switchgrass • Miscanthus • Other grasses • Prairie polycultures • Willows & other SRC trees Today – heat, electricity, forage Tomorrow – cellulosic biofuels, animal feed

  7. Local Bioenergy Initiative Components of the Initiative: • Outreach & assistance to early adopters • R & D on landscape design concepts • Market development • Including ecosystem service markets

  8. The Local Bioenergy Initiative Outreach & assistance to early adopters Some landowners like the “GYOF” idea – Grow your own fuel!

  9. Doug Gucker planting “Prairie for Bioenergy” plots, 2011

  10. Prairie cordgrass cultivar small plots in wet area Prairie for Bioenergy Single species demonstration plots

  11. Prairie cordgrass(Spartinapectinata): • High yielding warm season native • Thrives in wet conditions • Starts growing in early spring • Promising candidate for nitrate removal. Future site of AWI—Cat—U of IPrairie cordgrass research plot

  12. The Local Bioenergy Initiative • Develop/demonstrate landscape design concepts: • Optimize co-production of biomass & environmental benefits • Water Quality • Biodiversity • Wildlife habitat • Recreation Prairie grass buffer separates an organic field from the adjacent conventionally-farmed field.

  13. Local Bioenergy Initiative Promising scenarios for growing energy grasses • Eroded, wet, or hard-to-farm land • Buffers, waterways, slopes – Biomass + WQ • Nature preserves – Biomass + wildlife • Converted lawns – Avoid mowing, “GYOF”

  14. Riparian buffer Field * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Biomass production in saturated buffers: Tile flow diverted to soil column under buffer. Nitrates removed via plant uptake and denitrification. “Lost” nutrients fertilize a perennial biomass crop. Drainage discharge pipe Diverter box Adapted from Dan Jaynes, USDA, 2009.

  15. The Local Bioenergy Initiative Market development Markets for biomass ~ and ~ Markets for ecosystem services … Green Payments Eastern Illinois University’s Renewable Energy Center burns wood chips during start-up period. May shift to a grass—wood blend.

  16. Made in the USA Benton Schools Biomass Boiler Advanced Recycling Equipment (PA) Bob Thomas

  17. Made in the UK (But US-Made “bale burners” are now available) Dr. Ken Staver with hydronic boiler at Wye Research Center (U of MD)

  18. Local Bioenergy Initiative Local Bioenergy can draw on lessons from Local Food movement: • Re-connect people with food & energy sources • Attract and support agricultural producers with a strong stewardship ethic – “Grass farmers” • Learn how to produce efficiently at small scale • Some consumers pay a premium for local & organic food – Lesson for local bioenergy? • “Community Supported Energy” business model

  19. Community Supported Energy • Grow energy grasses • Make pellets or briquettes • Deliver biomass fuel to participating property owners • Collect ash and return nutrients to the soil

  20. Made in the USA Indoor pellet furnace – heat a farm shedBig M Mfg (IL)

  21. Blade switchgrass in Cat plots was harvested for hay in August 2012

  22. Flow Chart for Forage + Biomass + Clean Water

  23. Agricultural Watershed Institute Challenges for establishment of perennial energy crops: • Bridging the price gap – Coal or NG equivalent BTU price not sufficient to justify production and CHST of biomass for thermal energy • High opportunity cost of good cropland • Production cost lower on marginal land • Green payments may make up the difference • Biomass appears to be competitive with propane or fuel oil without green payments

  24. The Local Bioenergy Initiative Potential green payments for perennial energy crops: • Carbon Credits or Renewable Energy Credits • May become a significant driver … but when? • Local sources of green payments: • Source water protection (e.g. Lake Decatur) • Conservation easements – Hunting leases • “Wildlife and Water Quality” fund donations • BCAP & USDA programs for working lands • Modify CRP to permit more harvesting

  25. Local Bioenergy Initiative Final thoughts … Biomass crops can be used for thermal energy or forage without waiting for large biorefineries. Hay producers can be pioneers to grow warm season grasses for forage + biomass + clean water. Small U.S. manufacturers are finding a niche in the emerging Green Energy industry. Stakeholder-led projects can be laboratories for R&D on biomass—conservation synergies.

  26. Funding for the Local Bioenergy Initiative • is provided by … • The City of Decatur • Walton Family Foundation • Partners include … • Agricultural Watershed Institute • Producers & biomass entrepreneurs • Caterpillar • ADM • University of Illinois Extension & researchers • Eastern Illinois University • County SWCDs

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