Deere wants to help with wind power

Deere wants to help with wind power

Apr. 12--MANLIUS -- By Steve Tarter, Journal Star, Peoria, Ill. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Deere and Co. wants to add something else to its product line besides John Deere tractors for U.S. farmers: wind energy.

The Moline-based farm equipment giant is doing more than simply endorsing the technology involved. It is actively seeking to assist farmers, schools or municipalities that want to generate their own power, said Karl-Heinz Mertins, Deere's business development manager.

"John Deere views community-based wind energy as a great economic opportunity for rural America," he said, speaking at a renewable energy workshop Saturday at Bureau Valley High School, a Manlius-based school where power is supplied by wind energy.

"We're not interested in making wind turbines but in how wind energy can help farmers," said Mertins, noting Deere hopes to be a facilitator for farmers interested in wind power.

"Instead of everybody being on their own, John Deere would like to buy wind turbines and distribute them throughout the country," he said. "(Deere) would like to streamline the business while taking the time and cost out of wind energy installations," said Mertins.

"It's time for wind energy to come back to the farm again," he said. "Wind power is over 100 years old. If you go back to the Dutch windmills, it's a lot older than that," said Mertins.

Farmers could recognize a new source of income by harnessing wind energy, said Dan McGuire, CEO of the American Corn Growers Foundation in Washington, D.C.

McGuire urged farmers that were interested to get grant requests filed with the U.S. Department of Agriculture before June 28.

Wind power could increase a 250-acre farm's annual farm income by $14,000, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Wind power is considered the world's fastest growing energy resource. According to Washington, D.C.-based Environmental and Energy Study Institute, the United States currently generates enough wind energy to power 1 million households.

Farmers were also encouraged to use biodiesel at the workshop by Julie Toohill of the Bloomington-based Illinois Soybean Association. Biodiesel is diesel fuel blended with vegetable oil that burns cleaner with reduced emissions than regular diesel fuel.

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