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.
"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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