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Sustainable Communities Leadership SummitNorth Little Rock, AR

October 16, 2013

The 25x’25 Vision

By the year 2025, America’s farms,

ranches and forests will provide 25 percent of

the total energy consumed in the U.S. while continuing to

produce safe, abundant and affordable food,

feed and fiber.

We will meet the 25x’25 goal by:

Producing transportation fuels

Harnessing wind energy

Converting biogas emissions

Capturing solar energy

Providing biomass for generating heat and power

Sustainability

25x’25 Definition:Renewable energy production must conserve, enhance and protect natural resources and be economically viable, environmentally sound and socially acceptable

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration

2012 Total Energy Consumption: 95.10 Quad BTU

2012 Renewable Energy Consumption: 8.825 Quad BTU

America’s Mega ChallengesNational Security Economy

Environmental Health

Local Challenges Require Local Solutions

Education and workforceTransportation and infrastructurePopulation lossRevenues

Solutions from the Land Vision

“In 2050, U.S. farmers, ranchers, and foresters manage land to produce the food, fiber and energy needed to support a growing population and economy, while simultaneously improving biodiversity and the health of our environment.”

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Outcomes:

• By understanding the challenges that communities are facing and thinking strategically about future growth and development, rural decision-makers can direct growth in a way that benefits the community while preserving its rural heritage and traditions.

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Management Challenges for Rural Communities

Loss of working lands vs commercial development

Declining investments in research, extension and innovation

The changing climate Managing risks, market volatility, and multiple

demands

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Reaching the SFL Vision

Short term- we need to promote integration, and implementation of the best solutions that we have.

Long term- we need appropriate policies, investments, research and development, markets and measurement tools in place in order to ensure that resources are optimized – we have to do more with less.

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“The policies and practices of the past will not meet the needs of tomorrow”

Biomass for Bucks: The Show Me Energy Cooperative

• First producer-owned biomass cooperative in the US• Producers pool resources to produce bioenergy

feedstocks while improving the local economy and ecology

• Produces plant materials that can be turned into fuel and power

• Hands farmers a new revenue stream while simultaneously ensuring marginal lands remain ecologically healthy

• Produces the first “advanced biomass” pellets recognized by the USDA

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Generating Dollars in the Wind: Illinois Rural Electric Cooperative

• First cooperative to install community-scale wind in IL• Installed a 1.65MW turbine to offset coal-fired power

purchased from outside service area• Meets 5% of demand• Helps stabilize local energy needs with an emissions

free resource

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Capturing the Sun: Wampler’s Farm Sausage Co.• The Tennessee company has been a pioneer in solar investment since

2009• Over 500 kilowatts installed• Panels came from an in-state manufacturer and installed by an in-state

contractor• Leveraged grants from USDA and TVA• Company founder say sustainability does not mean having to choose

between a healthy environment and profits• Now investing in a bioenergy system

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Farm to Fuel: Local Crops to Biodiesel

• Launch of a mini-biorefinery in Dewitt, Arkansas – October 29• Demonstrate how rural communities can generate, market and utilize

biodiesel from local energy crop feedstocks• Goal is to replicate the model across the state and region• Local farmers supplying feedstocks to local facilities creating fuel for the

local community

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3 billion gallons of biofuels

51.2 billion kwh of electricity

While creating 119,000 new jobs and $16 billion in economic activity

By 2025, Arkansas’s farms, forests and ranches can annually produce:

Source: 25% Renewable Energy for the United States by 2025: An Analysis on Jobs Created By Meeting This Goal; UT Bio-Based Energy Analysis Group

The Path Forward• The road to a new energy future is rarely

straight; must deal with dips, turns & washouts

• Do we stay the course or find a new way?

• Must give attention to the driving forces shaping energy policy today; How do we engage opposition and each other going forward?

Please join us in bringing the vision of 25x’25 to life.

www.25x25.org