Transition to a Bioeconomy: The Role of Extension in Energy


Current Projects 2002 Farm Bill Education Conference Proceedings Agricultural Research and Productivity for the Future Assessing the Benefits of ARS R&D Within an Economic Framework Assessing the Impact of Policy-Oriented Social Science Research Biofuels, Food and Feed Tradeoffs C-FARE Farm Bill Symposiums Case Studies and Operational Development Challenging the Agricultural Economics Paradigm Farm and Food Policy and Obesity Farm Foundation Forums			Transition to a Bioeconomy: The Role of Extension in Energy The June 30-July 1, 2009, conference, Role of Extension in Energy, provided Extension educators with timely, practical information they can use in doing programming in their own state or locale. This final conference in the Transition to a Bioeconomy series was at the Doubletree Hotel, Little Rock, Arkansas. This conference was a collaboration of USDA's Office of Energy Policy and New Uses, Farm Foundation, USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service, and the University of Arkansas. A conference proceedings is available. The conference program featured experts working in renewable energy, biofuels, energy efficiency and new energy technologies. Presenters include industry leaders, staff from USDA and the U.S. Department of Energy, and researchers working in energy efficiency, renewable energy and new energy technologies. Each participant at the conference received an information toolkit containing handouts and papers from conference presentations. These materials were designed as aides Extension educators might use in programming in their respective locales. Conference presentations are posted here: *TUESDAY, June 30* Plenary Session 1 The Role of Extension in Energy Chair: Neil Conklin, Farm Foundation The Leadership Charge John E. Ferrell, U.S. Department of Energy Expectations for Extension Duane Acker, 25 x ‘25 Extension, Energy and Public Policy Charles Stenholm, Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Bode Matz PC Plenary Session 2 Renewable Energy Technology Outlook Chair: James Fischer, Fischer and Associates Wind: Technology Trends, Costs & Contracts Marguerite Kelly, National Renewable Energy Laboratory Geothermal Applications, Costs & Feasibility Roy Mink, Mink Geohydro, Inc. Solar Technology Trends & Costs John Thornton, Thornton Solar Consulting, LLC, NREL Emeritus Digester Technology Trends & Costs Bill Lazarus, University of Minnesota Biomass: Producer Choices, Production Costs & Potential Francis Epplin, Oklahoma State University Lunch Chair: Milo J. Shult, University of Arkansas Extension Strategies Targeting Energy Conservation & Efficiency Stanley Johnson, University of Nevada Workshop I: Risk Management for Energy Investments Chair: Clark Garland, University of Tennessee Establishing a Dedicated Energy Crop Kenny Hamilton, Tennessee farmer Biomass From a Plant Perspective Kyle Althoff, DuPont Danisco Agricultural Policy and Extension Recommendations Jim Larson, University of Tennessee Workshop II: Making Energy Efficiency Choices Chair: Stanley Johnson, University of Nevada Extension Resource Efficiency Programs for Residential Housing Pierce Jones, University of Florida How State Energy Offices Can Work with Extension David Sjoding, Washington State University Energy Conservation and Great Lakes Agriculture William Johnson, Alliant Energy Weatherization Tom Potter, Southwest Energy Efficiency Project Workshop III: Energy Crop Agronomics Chair: Michael Popp, University of Arkansas BMPs for Establishing and Maintaining Perennial Energy Crops Chuck West, University of Arkansas Hybrid Energy Crop BMPs (Annuals) Bill Rooney, Texas A&M University Economics of Crop Residues Daniel Petrolia, Mississippi State University Workshop IV: Forestry Chair: David Anderson, Texas A&M University Potential for a Sustainable Supply Daniel De La Torre Ugarte, University of Tennessee Technological Trends & Production Costs for Forestry Biomass Matthew Pelkki, University of Arkansas Coproducts and Byproducts of Biorefinery Processing Eric Taylor, Texas A&M University Workshop V: Harvest, Storage, and Logistics Chair: Shahabaddine Sokhansanj, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Developing a Uniform-Format Feedstock Supply System Chris Wright, Idaho National Lab Logistics Challenges and Size Reduction John Cundiff, Virginia Tech Economics of the Supply Chain Burton English, University of Tennessee Workshop VI: eXtension and Other Delivery Methods Chair: Harrison Pittman, University of Arkansas eXtension Overview, Purpose and Direction Craig Wood, University of Kentucky Farms as Producers and Consumers of Sustainable Ag Energy: Strategies for Improving Energy Efficiency Sue Hawkins, University of Vermont The Case of High Plains Wind Consortium Cole Gustafson, North Dakota State University Wednesday, July 1 Plenary Session 3 Anticipated Extension Program Needs Chair: Steve Halbrook, University of Arkansas Green House Gas and Indirect Land Use Wallace Tyner, Purdue University Legal Issues with Bioeconomy Development Harrison Pittman, University of Arkansas Community Development Issues Mark Edelman, Iowa State University Plenary Session 4 Role of Extension in the Bioeconomy Chair: Steve Halbrook, University of Arkansas Effectiveness of Extension Efforts on Energy David Anderson, Texas A&M University Extension Administration Perspective on Funding Energy Efforts Tim Cross, University of Tennessee Strengths, Weaknesses, Resources, Opportunities and Challenges Dan Dooley, University of California 08-18e