Senator Grassley visits
   Chariton Valley RC&D

Local producers and representatives from various agencies gathered recently at the Chariton Valley RC&D office in Centerville to visit with Senator Charles Grassley.

Jim Cooper, Chariton Valley RC&D Coordinator, presented an overview of the Chariton Valley Biomass Project, explaining the economic and environmental benefits of using switchgrass as a renewable energy source. The focus of the project is the potential use of switchgrass as a fuel to replace a portion of the coal burned at Alliant Power’s (formerly IES Utilities) Ottumwa generating station.

"Using switchgrass as a biomass fuel would allow producers to use the land while achieving the environmental and economic benefits of the CRP, "Cooper said.  "We’re looking for alternatives that are compatible with Southern Iowa soils, instead of just row crop."

Bill Belden, with the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, explained to Senator Grassley that use of an existing tax credit for biomass would make the cost of using switchgrass as fuel more attractive to power plants. "What we need is a tax credit for switchgrass to make it competitive with coal, just like the tax credit given to ethanol," Belden said.

In addition, a tax credit would help create a market that encourages producers to grow this alternative crop on marginal land. Farm Bureau member, Mark Haines added, " We would like to keep as much of the land as possible under forage, as in CRP, and protect the Rathbun Lake watershed if we can."

Senator Grassley listened as project coordinator, Marty Braster, explained that wording in the current legislation prohibits the project’s use of the renewable resources electricity tax credit. What stands in the way of the project’s eligibility for the tax credit is the definition a qualified facility.

Currently, only facilities which are placed in service or have had modifications made within a specified time period qualify. If the legislation were changed to include the project’s power plant, the value of switchgrass, when used as an energy crop, would increase by $21 per ton. This would help make switchgrass more competitive with coal and other fuels.

Grassley provided leadership on legislation that created the income tax credit for wind and closed-loop biomass facilities. Closed-loop biomass refers to biomass grown specifically for energy generation.

In a visit last fall, U.S. Secretary Dan Glickman and Iowa Senator Tom Harkin pledged continued legislative support for renewable energy sources such as switchgrass. At that time, the USDA announced a $44,700 grant for the Chariton Valley Biomass Project.

Also present for Senator Grassley’s visit were Chariton Valley RC&D, Inc. board members, Leon Kauzlatich and Paul Koffman, Farm Bureau member, Marlan Korthaus, and Alliant Power Engineer, Gary Walling.

More than 40 members of Prairie Lands Bio-Products, Inc. attended the annual meeting in Centerville recently. Officers were elected for the coming year. Neil Molstad, Iowa State University (ISU) graduate student, presented a review of the fertility and trial plot research which is conducted under the direction of Dr. Lee Burras and Dr. Charles Brummer.Those in attendance also heard from Peter Overgaard, project manager of Elsamproject out of Denmark. Overgaard discussed their successful experience in co-firing wheat straw with coal for more than ten years. Newly elected board members are Bill Nye, Doug Goben, and Marvin Wirtjes. The board meets on a monthly basis. For more information, contact a board member.

John Sellers, Chariton Valley Biomass Project field coordinator, with the assistance of Prairie Lands member Don Clark, will take soil tests this spring on the majority of switchgrass fields enrolled in the project."This is to ensure proper fertility so as not to deplete the existing resources. Plus it is just a good idea to make sure everything is in balance." He adds, "Soil testing ensures nitrogen applications will be more efficient and help produce desired results for biomass production." Sellers will also be working with project cooperators on food plots, weed control as well as reseeding any week stands of switchgrass. For more information, contact John Sellers at 641-872-2657. In addition, Sellers reminds cooperators that the project field identification signs are available at the Chariton Valley RC&D office, 641-437-4376