Renewable Energy: A Rural Economic Development Strategy

Transcription

1 Renewable Energy: A Rural Economic Development Strategy Community Development Society International Conference Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, July 22-25, 2012

2 Workshop Overview Present program and curriculum Explain Community Development Professionals role Experience how it can be offered Share program curriculum web site

3 Program Curriculum Purpose: series of educational modules for community leaders who are considering renewable energy to enable informed decision making and the building of community understanding and support Focus: utility scale wind, solar and biomass power generation Target audience: economic development/community development professionals, elected and appointed officials, and community leaders in rural areas Delivery method: Workshop, presentations, written materials and web resources; train the trainer collaborative teaching

4 Cafeteria Model Customer Choice Intro Session - Energy 101: Drivers, State Policies, general understanding of benefits, challenges and requirements of wind, solar and biomass utility scale projects In-depth Topic Specific Modules: Presentations on wind, solar and biomass development, community support and engagement and other topics that can be chosen to meet community s specific interests and needs

5 Energy 101 Introductory Workshop Purpose: provide an overview for community leaders who are considering renewable energy in order to stimulate informed decision making and the building of community understanding and support Focus: utility scale wind, solar and biomass power generation Target audience: economic development/community development professionals, elected and appointed officials, and community leaders in rural areas Delivery method: hands-on interactive workshop supplemented by written materials; simulates location of renewable energy company in rural community

6 Welcome to Energy 101

7 What is Renewable Energy? Energy generated from natural resources such as sunlight, rain, tides, wave action, biomass, ocean thermal and geothermal, which are naturally replenished (renewable). Energy Information Administration

8 What is Driving RE Development? Increasing demand Environmental concerns Policies & programs (state & federal)

9 States with RPS & AEPS

10 Benefits & Challenges for Each Technology Type Benefits Limitations Wind Solar Bioenergy Maintains farmland Income for farmers Clean Job creation Generates local tax revenue Unlimited resource Clean Income for farmers Generates local tax revenue Stimulates rural farm economy Utilizes marginal ag land Co-generation with coal Reduced CO2 emissions Generates local tax revenue Job creation Wildlife impact Social acceptance Viewshed impact Expensive Transportation of blades Intermittent resource Large footprint Expensive Intermittent resource Creates few jobs Competes with food & feed Reduces conservation lands Volume feed stocks required Transportation demands Must be near power plant

11 What are General Location Requirements? Land availability Access to Infrastructure Interconnection capacity & engineering compatibility Access to raw materials Environmental considerations Community receptivity

12 What are Wind Industry Location Requirements? Sustained wind speed >10 mph Large tracks of land (10,000 acres) Avian considerations flyways, migration paths, nesting areas Minimal community impacts Access to transmission lines/power grid

13 What are Solar Industry Location Requirements? Large sites: 100 acres = 10 megawatts Relatively flat: <6% grade No shading obstructions Proper soil conditions Access to substation distribution grid

14 What are Biomass Industry Location Requirements? Large tracks of marginally productive agricultural land in region Transportation infrastructure Site with compatible surrounding uses, or industrial park Utilities on site Proximity to power plant

15 Your Role You are the leaders of a NW Ohio rural community (Hopewell County) population 40,000. A large scale Renewable Energy developer has approached you with interest in locating in your county. You don t know much about RE development, but do see this project as having potential economic development benefit. You have asked your ED/CD Directors to help you get up to speed. What you learn will be put to use in developing a strategic plan for your community.

16 Your Task Evaluate your county s sites using industry specific criteria Determine which site is appropriate for the industry you are working with Make a presentation to the larger group explaining your decisions

17 Case Studies Iberdrola Wind, Van Wert, Ohio Wyandot Solar, Wyandot, Ohio Aloterra Energy, Northeast Ohio Tell the story Outline benefits to community Outline development challenges & solutions Discuss community engagement Explain how process can be replicated in other rural communities

18 Questions?

19 Contact Information Myra Moss, Extension edu Nancy Bowen, Field Specialist, Community Economics Eric Romich, Field Specialist, u bowenellzey.1@osu.edu