| Project Title |
Project Description |
Contact Information |
| Energy Independence, Bioenergy Generation and Environmental Sustainability: The Role of a 21st Century Engaged University. |
The key contacts are Robin Shepard, CNRED Program Leader and Dr. Sharon Lezberg, Environmental Resources Center. This project is targeted to North Central state extension educators and water quality professionals in the Great Lakes and Heartland Regions of the National Integrated Water Quality Program (NIWQP.) The objectives of the project are to:
- Develop a comprehensive local decision model/tool for assessing bio-economy initiatives.
- Design and deliver in-service workshops for North Central Region water quality professionals and extension educators to build capacity and competence in comprehensive bio-economy project assessment.
- Continue the model through expansion to other regions and via extension-type delivery.
Funded through grants from USDA, CREES, National Water Quality Program. |
E-mail Robin Shepard or Sharon Lezberg for more information.
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| Earth, Wind and Fire: Preparing for Bio-Energy Opportunities in Wisconsin |
The key contacts are Andrew Dane, CNRED Agent-Barron and Chippewa Counties; Pete Kling, CNRED Agent-St. Croix County; Jerry Clark, ANRE Agent-Chippewa County; Greg Andrews, ANRE Agent-Pierce County; and Tim Bay, Center for Community Economic Development. This project is focused initially on Western/Northern Wisconsin with the potential to share resources/regional techniques statewide. The objectives of the project are to provide Wisconsin communities with the tools they need to take advantage of bioenergy opportunities in an environmentally sustainable way that maximizes local economic benefits. The project will convene a regional bioenergy team comprising local stakeholders from government, the private sector and the University to develop a community bioenergy preparedness program and help individual counties identify their own bioenergy pilot/demonstration projects. A user-driven website has been designed using social networking software. Program materials and live presentations have been posted to the website.
Spring 2008 country forum presentations
Funded through the UW-Extension/UW Colleges Program Innovation Fund. |
E-mail Andrew Dane for more information.
Project link: www.bioenergyforum.com |
| Bioenergy Project: Recommending Public Policy and Defining Risks |
The key contact is Dr. Randy Fortenbery, Dept. of Ag and Applied Economics, CALS & UWEX. The initial goals of this project are to identify and strengthen synergies associated with current research, to engage in a civic science collaborative process to discover other opportunities associated with bioenergy, and to provide leadership for developing a comprehensive, system-wide research program focused on measuring social and environmental benefits and costs associated with the bio-fuels sector. This will also include a comprehensive analysis of policy alternatives, and quantification of benefits and costs associated with public sector initiatives.
Funded through a grant from the Consortium on Education and Research in Agriculture and Natural Resources. |
E-mail Randy Fortenbery for more information. |
| Sustainable Biorefining Systems for Corn Ethanol in the North Central Region |
The key contacts are Dr. Michael Bell, Dept. of Rural Sociology; Dr. Bill Bland, Dept. of Soil Science, the Gaylord Nelson Institute of Environmental Sciences, and UWEX; and Leann Tiggs, Dept. of Sociology. This project focuses on three aspects of biorefining systems – the environmental, the economic and the social. The goals for each aspect are:
Environmental: Refinery-specific energy and greenhouse gas assessments for all operating plants in the state, using a life-cycle analysis tool.
Economic: Workforce analyses of selected refineries to understand their contributions to local labor markets as well as the total subsidies provided to each plant.
Social: Case studies of selected refineries using ethnographic methods to understand both collaborations and conflicts resulting from their siting and operation.
Funded by Hatch NC506 |
E-mail Bill Bland for more information. |
| Regional and Community Decisions about Biofuel Facility Siting |
The key contact is Dr. Steve Ventura, Land Information and Computer Graphics Facility. The goals of this project are to:
- Determine opportunities and constraints which influence the siting of biofuel facilities at local and regional scales;
- Generate statewide assessments of biofuel facility regional suitability;
- Determine information needs of communities for evaluating specific biofuel facility proposals.
Dr. Ventura is collaborating with Matt Kures of the UWEX Center for Community Economic Development.
Funded by Hatch NC506 |
E-mail Steve Ventura for more information. |
| Biofuels and community participation: Engaging process in the emerging bioeconomy |
Project initiated Sept., 2008. The key contact is Dr. Sharon Lezberg, Environmental Resources Center, CALS and UWEX. The project will provide professional training materials and in-service trainings to Extension agents, NRCS personnel, and community stakeholders on engaging community process in assess the suitability of proposed biofuels developments. The focus is to encourage a process that promotes community engagement and dialogue in order to avoid conflict within communities, and to safeguard community assets and interests.
Funding from: North Central SARE Professional Development Program (NC-SARE)
|
E-mail Sharon Lezberg for more information. |
| Small Scale On-Farm Biodiesel Options for Livestock Farmers |
Buffalo County Ag Agent Carl Duley and Trempealeau County Ag Agent Jon Zander are leading this program which will teach farmers to make informed decisions regarding producing biodiesel on their farms. Dairy and other livestock production continues to be very important in western Wisconsin and small scale on-farm biodiesel production may be one way for livestock farmers to lower their costs both of fuel and of protein inputs. Extension Ag Agents in the Western District will develop a complete system for evaluating small scale on-farm biodiesel production including growing different oilseed crops to processing the oil into ATSM quality biodiesel. Very little if any applied research is available for farmers regarding production, costs or safety of biodiesel production. Information will be gathered on the quality and economics of feeding the protein meal byproduct to dairy cattle and other livestock.
More about this project. |
E-mail Carl Duley for more information.
Also involved:
Bill Halfman – Monroe County
Steve Huntzicker – La Crosse County
Jerry Clark – Chippewa County
Trisha Wagner - Jackson County
Bob Cropp - Pepin County
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