MSU Extension Agricultural Bioenergy and Energy Conservation

Powering Michigan Agriculture with Renewable Energy 

Conference Proceedings 

Speaker Biographies 

8:30 a.m.                         Welcome

8:45-9:15 a.m.                 Energy in Rural Michigan: Lay of the Land – Jim Byrum, Michigan Agri-Business Association

9:15-10:45 a.m.               Existing Renewable Opportunities – Implementation

• • • • • Why solar energy? – Ken Zebarah, Harvest Energy Solutions
        • Exploiting the free, renewable energy, above and below your farm – Timothy Schultz, Terra Caloric, LLC
        • Small wind energy systems – Steve Harsh, Michigan State University Extension
        • Anaerobic digestion in Michigan: A review of where we are and a look at opportunities for the future – Dana Kirk, Michigan State University
        • Growing fuels: Biomass opportunities for farmers – Charles Gould, Michigan State University Extension
        • The role of an energy audit in renewable energy project – Dan Schrauben, Schrauben Associates, LLC

10:45-11:15 a.m.             Break

11:15 a.m. -  12:15 p.m. Getting It Built: Funding Pathways Available to Farmers

• • • • • Consumers Energy – Duane Watson
        • DTE  – Sean McCoy
        • WECC – Kevin Phillips
        • USDA Rural Development – Rick Vanderbeek
        • USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services – Becky Otto
        • MI SAVES – Todd O'Grady

12:15-2 p.m.                   Lunch, Keynote Presentation, Awards Presentation, Vendor Visits

• Sean Babington, Senator Debbie Stabenow's office
• Al Go, Michigan State University

2-3:30 p.m.                    Energy Innovation: Michigan Examples

• • • • • Joanmarie and Roger Weiss, Weiss Centennial Farm (dairy farm with a gasifier that uses biomass to produce heat and hot water)
        • Jon VanderKolk, GDW Turkey Farm (turkey farm that implemented heater efficiency, insulation and facility weatherization energy efficiency practices)
        • Judy Marteniuk, Refsal/Marteniuk Farm (goat farm with geothermal and solar photovoltaic systems)
        • Andy Austin, Scenic View Dairy (dairy farm with an anaerobic digester)

3:30-3:45 p.m.              Michigan's Energy Policy and Programs Affecting Agriculture – Paul Proudfoot, Michigan Agency for Energy

3:45-4 p.m.                   Closing Comments – Laura Campbell, Michigan Farm Bureau