Expert doubts PA can make renewable fuel

Link: http://www.readingeagle.com/re/news/1624420.asp

Expert doubts state can make renewable fuel
Gov. Rendell's push for energy independence may be overly optimistic given Pennsylvania's agricultural capacity, an agronomy educator says.

By Darrin Youker
Reading Eagle

Gov. Ed Rendell wants to see Pennsylvania farmers grow enough crops to produce a billion gallons of renewable fuels each year to reduce the state's dependence on foreign oil.

But the plan could die on the vine because there isn't enough farmland to produce grain for energy while also keeping up with agricultural needs, according to a local agriculture expert.

Follow up:

Rendell's renewable-fuels plan is part of a sweeping energy policy that calls for creating an $850 million Energy Independence Fund for initiatives such as reimbursing homeowners for installing solar-power systems and using farms to grow crops for fuel.

Pennsylvania already imports grain because there is not enough farmland to support the state's animal industry, said Mena Hautau, agronomy educator for Berks County Cooperative Extension.

Even more imports would be needed to support ethanol and biodiesel production.

“I appreciate the governor saying this but it sounds a little unrealistic,” Hautau said.

The new markets, however, could help farmers struggling to make a profit, Hautau said. Production of ethanol from corn and biodiesel, which is made from soybeans, is driving up the price of grain across the nation.

Michael Braucher, a Centre Township grain farmer, said Pennsylvania farmers need other outlets for their crops because agriculture isn't growing as fast as the rest of the economy.

“Anything that can help strengthen agriculture will help,” he said of Rendell's initiative.

Besides boosting renewable-fuel production, Rendell also wants to promote the use of solar energy in homes and businesses.

A state program to pay half the cost might be the push homeowners need to install solar systems, said Donald Weidner, president of Weidner Energy Savers Inc. in Reading.

“I think people are hesitant to change,” Weidner said. “It is going take some kind of incentive to get people to change.”

A typical solar-power system costs $2,000 to $10,000, depending on its size and the amount of energy it produces, Weidner said.

Solar energy can be used to heat and power homes, Weidner said, adding that a $2,000 to $3,000 system could cut heating bills up to 75 percent.

Weidner said that during the 1970s energy crisis he expected to see more people turn to solar systems. But interest in new energy sources declined as oil prices stabilized.

“I was hoping this would happen back in the 1970s,” Weidner said of the move toward alternative energy. “I guess I wonder how far this is going to go.”