Reuters – President Joe Biden’s administration on Thursday said the U.S. will spend $7.3 billion from 2022’s Inflation Reduction Act to fund clean energy projects helmed by rural electric cooperatives. The 16 funded projects will reduce energy costs and increase reliability for rural Americans, who tend to pay more for energy, the White House said. […] Read more
Tag Archives renewable energy
U.S. to spend $7.3 billion on rural clean energy projects
Smart Energy Company brings the Noreaster solar solution to Ontario
Solar system is modular, allowing operations to adapt the system over time to offset capital costs
A New Brunswick-based company is offering personalized micro-solar farm systems to Ontario farmers to help them lower on-farm electricity costs and bolster supply. “The cost of electricity is skyrocketing. It’s unpredictable. Farmers love finding unique solutions to help generate their independence,” said Jeff McAloon, Smart Energy co-owner. “And we help farmers generate independence.” Why it […] Read more
Battery energy storage latest farmland use debate
Farm groups push for more oversight of the use of farmland for battery backup systems
Farmers and residents in municipalities across Ontario are raising concerns about farmland Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) proposals. BESS are rechargeable batteries with multi-source energy storage capacity, allowing off-peak hour storage dispatchable onto the grid to meet electricity demand. Why it matters: Farmers are concerned with the loss of land due to industrial and residential […] Read more
Alberta to ban renewables projects on prime agricultural land
Rules could create a backdoor land ban, analyst says
Alberta will ban renewable power projects on prime agricultural land and erect buffer zones to ensure wind turbines do not spoil scenic views, the provincial government said on Wednesday.
Researchers build green fertilizer system to reuse wastes, cut emissions
Science Notes: Researchers also want to boost the project’s sustainability by using wind and solar energy to produce green fertilizer
Researchers from the U.S. Midwest want to remove some greenhouse gas emissions from fertilizer. Research teams from Iowa State University and Wichita State University in Kansas are developing a system that captures waste nitrogen and carbon dioxide to produce a green fertilizer that reduces emissions of nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas more potent than carbon […] Read more
How biogas can fit with a sustainable agriculture strategy
The potential is huge, but policies must make sense
The landscape for renewable natural gas (RNG) production on Ontario farms is getting bigger, but the provincial and federal governments must stop thinking of the fuel in the same way as they do for natural gas derived from fossil fuels. That was the take-home message from a group of panelists representing the agriculture sector at […] Read more
How greenhouse growers can reduce energy costs
Dehumidification technology can be a useful tool to control humidity and heat loss
High humidity levels inside greenhouses are a byproduct of growing crops indoors. Left uncontrolled, humid air can reduce crop growth and result in poor quality produce, so growers have traditionally resorted to ventilation to manage the issue. While effective, this strategy also causes heat loss, which can increase a farm’s energy costs. The Ontario chapter […] Read more
Editorial: Agrivoltaics has potential
A group of scientists, energy consultants, ag tech and green energy business owners came together last month to discuss how solar energy can help tackle the province’s looming energy crisis – and they say it could help farmers at the same time. Members of the newly-formed Agrivoltaics Canada held an inaugural conference at University of […] Read more
New biodigester project aims to use corn stover
Three on-farm digesters are part of a project from B.C. and Ontario investors
An Ontario project aims to use corn stover to feed biodigesters, forming a new market and use for corn stalks. EverGen, a British Columbia-based renewable energy company, has committed $1.5 million to help kickstart three southern Ontario on-farm biodigesters as part of a recently announced partnership deal called Project Radius. Why it matters: Farms who […] Read more
What are agrivoltaics, and can they make money?
Researchers and energy experts say better policies could help solar; 10 sites being tested in the province next year
Canada’s pastures and cropland are prime sites for the mass deployment of solar energy infrastructure, according to advocates of agrivoltaics – a term used to describe the simultaneous use of land for solar energy and food production. The use of solar panels on buildings, in pastures and in other areas of working farms is not […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
