For immediate release: Contact: Rich Dana 319-685-4270 (cell) 319-321-0667 <[log in to unmask]> Press Release Renewable Energy: A New Cash Crop For Iowa Renewable energy technology is offering the world new alternatives to reliance on fossil fuels while providing Iowašs farmers with new economic opportunities. A free public forum on renewable energy and its relationship to agriculture will be held in Nevada at the Iowa Energy Centeršs BECON (Biomass Energy Conversion) facility, 1521 West F Ave., Nevada, Iowa (off of 610th Ave.) on Saturday, May 5th, from 10 am. to 1 pm. With the California energy crisis and low commodity prices making the national news , Iowans are becoming aware of our statešs vast potential for producing a new crop - electric power. On May 5th, Iowa SEED (Sustainable Energy for Economic Development) will hold the fourth and final of a series of state-wide meetings to discuss the economic potential of renewable source energy as well as the obstacles to the development of these new "crops" at the Becon Center. Farmers in the northwest part of the state are discovering new economic possibilities with the development of new "wind farms"- electric generating facilities constructed by developers on private lands. Lease agreements are paying farmers an average of $2000 annually per wind turbine, which takes only about 1/4 acre out of production. In the Southern part of the state where wind resources are less viable, farmers are getting involved in the production of switchgrass, a hearty native perennial plant which provides an excellent clean burning alternative to fossil fuels. Switchgrass can be co-fired in older coal plants to decrease CO2 emissions, while reducing Iowašs dependence on outside fuel sources. Speakers for the event include: Alan Teel, Cass county extension switchgrass expert; Ed Woolsey, Board Member, Iowa Renewable Energy Association; Angela Chen, Executive Officer, Energy Bureau, DNR & David Osterberg, renewable energy advocate and former state legislator. Keith Kutz and Floyd Barwig of the Iowa Energy Center will talk about the BECON Facility and the IECšs renewable energy loan program. Displays and information will be available from sponsor organizations including: The Iowa SEED Coalition, The Union of Concerned Scientists, Ecumenical Ministries of Iowa, The Iowa Citizen Action Network, Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources, Iowa Farmers Union, The Iowa Network for Community Agriculture (INCA), The Iowa Renewable Energy Association (I-Renew), Iowa State University Extension, The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Practical Farmers of Iowa, The Wallace Foundation for Rural Research and Development and The Wallace House Foundation For more information on this meeting & series sponsor organizations, please visit: http://www.geocities.com/energyfarming/meeting_schedule.html or call Rich Dana, UCS Field Organizer, at 319-685-4270. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For SC email list T-and-C, send: GET TERMS-AND-CONDITIONS.CURRENT to [log in to unmask]