Wisconsin farmers could play a major role in meeting proposed renewable energy standards for the state.
As the Governor continues his push to have Wisconsin get 25-percent of its power from renewable sources by 2025, state Agriculture Secretary Rod Nilsestuen says farmers are already a big part of efforts to make the Badger State more energy independent. Nilsestuen says he really believes farms have part of the answer for keeping energy production at home.
The Secretary says there’s a great deal of potential in existing technologies, such as ethanol, bio-mass, and anaerobic digesters. He says bio-based fuel sources already account for over 90-percent of the renewable energy being generated in the state right now, meaning the ground work is already in place to help produce farm-based clean energy.
The Secretary says coal-based electricity will likely face tougher regulations in the future, which will lead to rising energy costs. Wisconsin gets two-thirds of its current electricity needs from coal. Nilsestuen says exploring the use of more bio-fuels could easily give the state a “home grown” fuel advantage.
AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (1:12)
