The Department of Agriculture’s renewable energy development assistance program helps bring wind energy to the farm. The program seeks to increase energy independence by increasing the private sector supply of renewable energy, such as distributed wind, while decreasing the demand for energy through efficiency. Over time, these investments can also help lower energy costs for small businesses and agricultural producers.
Jon Miles is a professor at James Madison University in Virginia, and the director of the university’s Center for Wind Energy. He and students at the University, with state government support, are working to enhance distributed wind in Virginia.
Staff at the Center for Wind Energy also developed a map of the state showing the best areas on a county level where distributed wind would see the greatest success.
He says distributed wind offers many benefits for farmers.
Distributed wind provides an economic benefit, as well.
He says distributed wind is an important element of the state’s energy mix, and can be for other states, as well.
For more information, interested parties should contact their State Rural Development Energy Coordinator. Visit www.rd.usda.gov and select Browse by State to find your coordinator. Applications for the REDA program are accepted year-round. Learn more about wind energy at windexchange.energy.gov. Reporting for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, I’m Micheal Clements.
From the National Association of Farm Broadcasting News Service.