(Published Wednesday, June 20, 2007 11:29:44 AM CST)
A d v e r t i s e m e n t
By Brian Reisinger Gazette staff
Grass growing on marginal land might not seem important to area farmers right now, but it could become a valuable asset in the energy industry of the future.
In the continuing exploration of biofuels as an alternative to petroleum, Michigan Tech researcher Ben Wodika is collecting prairie grasses in southern Wisconsin to see if they are a viable source of cellulosic ethanol.
"(Farmers) may be able to make money off of the energy," Wodika said following a presentation at Tallgrass Restoration, 3129 E. County N, Milton. "It could be a big benefit."
Wodika, a doctoral student in forestry, and his research team are taking grass samples from 12 sites in southern Wisconsin. Two of those are in Rock County-Tallgrass and another private plot southeast of Beloit. In addition to researching the ethanol-producing potential of the grasses, they'll look at which are best for birds and insects.
The study, which began in late April, will continue seasonally until October 2010. Another study in northern Wisconsin operating under the same grant is considering aspen wood as a source of ethanol.
The process for extracting sugars from grass is still under development. But it would likely require the current ethanol industry-which centers on corn-to update methods and equipment to get on board.
Wodika's team will take samples back to Michigan Tech for chemical testing to see how much energy could be squeezed from various grasses.
He predicts that land with many different types of prairie grass, not just switch grass, will be the best source of energy and the best habitat for birds and insects.
If Wodika's research affirms his prediction, that could mean a convenient and perhaps more environmentally friendly energy source. Perennial grasses can grow on marginal land, would require less fertilizer and pesticides and might offer a better home to wildlife than other land use, he said. And like corn ethanol, the fuel would be renewable and cleaner than petroleum.
"It's a possibility, if somebody could prove that it would work," David Arndt of Arndt Farms, 5215 S. Read Road, said about planting prairie grasses as a cash crop.
Employees at Tallgrass Restoration, which has been working to restore prairie grasses in the area, were interested in the idea. But they were also wary of its potential to exploit the land.
"If profit is the major drive, you could possibly stress or strain the prairie ecosystem," said Chris Kaplan, Tallgrass project manager. "If done with conservation in mind, this could be a win-win."
Wodika said he hopes his research leads to sustainable practices. Careful use of the land is in the best interest of farmers and the ethanol industry as well, he said, because overworking it would damage productivity and increase costs.
Striking that balance will require prudent action by farmers, industry leaders and policy makers if a prairie grass ethanol industry flourishes, he said.
"Let's look at what we're doing before we go crazy with it," he said.
