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Eco-Friendly Farming: Sowing the Seeds of Renewable Energy0

Ysabel Yates |Wed Aug 15 2012

Twelve percent of global greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture, and six to nine percent of farm expenses are energy related.

Using renewable energy in agriculture has benefits for both the economy and the environment, and many farms around the world are using the abundance of on-site renewable resources to produce energy.

Here is a look at how renewable energy – from solar power to microbial digestion – is changing the future of agriculture.

Photosynthesis to Photovoltaics

With expanses of land and a need to source power to remote locations, solar energy is well-suited for life on the farm.

In the United States, the number of solar projects on farms funded by the USDA’s REAP program increased fivefold between 2007 and 2009, according to a report by the USDA (pdf).

Solar installations can be placed on lands that can’t be used for food production, or even on unusable water sources. For example, Far Niente Winery in Oakland, CA, floated nearly half of its 400kW system panels over a 1-acre gray water retention pond, reducing the amount of land needed to generate energy.

Wind Power for Farms

Wind energy in the United States is soaring with potential. Many states have excellent wind energy conditions and three states in particular – Kansas, Texas, and North Dakota – have enough wind to power the entire nation. The United States just surpassed its 50GW milestone for wind energy, and the industry is now capable of providing enough energy to power 13 million homes across the United...