February 22, 2008

Energy efficiency workshops to be held around the state

Sponsored by the Indiana Office of Energy and Defense Development and Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service, the series of seven free workshops will take place as follows: Feb 26, Warsaw; March 4, Jasper; March 5, Orleans; March 18, Rockville; March 21, Monticello; March 25, Greensburg; and March 27, Portland. The time is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

"Typical grain drying systems require the use of LP gas, which has had a significant price increase," said Chad Martin, renewable energy Extension specialist. "We want to provide technical analysis of these systems so that producers can evaluate if they want to upgrade to a more efficient system."

Martin said that many producers do not realize that U.S. Department of Agriculture programs are in place to help fund renewable energy farm projects such as upgrading to a more efficient grain drying system.

According to the Office of Energy and Defense Web site, since 2003 nearly $215 million in grant and loan guarantee awards for more than 2,100 clean energy projects have been awarded around the country.

Some of the projects have included wind power, biofuels, anaerobic methane digesters, solar and other power, and energy efficiency.

In 2007, $23 million in funding was available nationwide. Twenty-five percent of the funding was set aside for grants and 25 percent for grant-loan guarantee combinations and 50 percent for loan guarantees. The 2008 funding levels are still being determined.

"These workshops are an effort to encourage Indiana producers to take advantage of these programs," Martin said. "There are many things people can do to update their business. We are here to provide resources that could help them."

Information used in this workshop series has incorporates extensive research in grain drying systems conducted by Dirk Maier and Teshome E. Jiru, professors in Purdue's agricultural and biological engineering department.

Workshop presenters also will discuss how to put together a proposal and teach aspects of the grant-writing process.

To register for one of the events, please contact Katherine Page Saldana at (765) 336-9522, katherine@causematters.com. Registering is suggested, but not required. Lunch is provided. For more information, visit https://www.in.gov/energy/technologies/9006Workshops.html  or contact Martin at (765) 496-3964, martin95@purdue.edu.

Writer: Hannah Brescher, (765) 494-8402, hbresche@purdue.edu

Source: Chad Martin, (765) 496-3964, martin95@purdue.edu

Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu
Agriculture News Page

To the News Service home page