Bio-Energy Project Development

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Cities Developing Urban Agriculture Codes

Urban agriculture has become increasingly popular in recent years as a way to deal with vacant properties, revitalize neighborhoods, and provide job skills and nutrition to local residents struggling with poverty and a lack of access to fresh produce.

In Austin, Texas, a working group of the Sustainable Food Policy Board is meeting to clarify and update city code related to urban farms, livestock, size of farm, employees and dwellings, according to the Austin Chronicle.

The working group has been holding public sessions to gather input from urban farmers and community members about pending updates to the urban farm ordinance.

In April 2013, the Flint Farmers' Market reported that the Detroit City Council adopted the city's first urban agriculture zoning ordinance recognizing agriculture as a legitimate land use and setting standards for it.

Other cities working to update or create urban agriculture codes include Boston, Massachusetts;
Fort Collins, Colorado; and Portland, Oregon.

For more information, see USDA's National Ag Library webpage on Urban Agriculture.

Home » Curriculum » Bio-Energy Project Development

By Andrew Dane, University of Wisconsin Extension, 2008, andrew.dane@ces.uwex.edu.

Case Studies

EcoCombustion Energy Systems Case Study, Eric Anderson and Andrew Dane, 2008 - Located in Wisconsin, this corporation has successfully designed and created an on-site system that burns the manure from the dairy operation. As a result, there is minimal byproduct from the initial manure, and energy is produced from the operation.
Emerald Dairy Case Study, Eric Anderson and Andrew Dane, 2008 - This case study details how Emerald Dairy's anaerobic digester system takes the manure from the cows and creates outputs that are completely used on-site. As a result, the dairy has lowered its need to import outside products to the dairy.
Indianhead Holsteins Case Study, Eric Anderson and Andrew Dane, 2008 - This 100-head dairy farm is in the process of becoming energy self-sufficient. In 2007, the owners started purchasing canola seeds and pressing them to make straight vegetable oil for on-site fuel. They use half of the resulting canola meal as a dietary supplement for the cows, increasing their milk production, and sell the remaining half.
Xcel Energy Bay Front Case Study, Eric Anderson and Andrew Dane, 2008 - This energy plant currently operates by burning wood, coal and limited amounts of shredded tires but has steadily reduced its coal usage and increased its percentage of power produced by wood. This practice has helped the local economy by creating a new market for woody biomass to complement existing wood and wood product-related industries, resulting in additional revenue streams for woody biomass suppliers in the region.

Report

Analyzing Regional Demand for Green Power – Western Wisconsin Wisconsin Renewable Energy Survey Report; Shelly Hadley, David Trechter, James Janke, Denise Parks and Ramona Gunter; 2008 - In January 2008, 145 public organizations (municipalities, hospitals/clinics, schools and universities) in western Wisconsin were asked to complete a survey seeking input on their current and potential demand for electricity generated from renewable or “green” sources. Survey results indicated that most public organizations do not know their annual energy usage and have not set a goal for kilowatts coming from renewable sources in the future. However, electric energy suppliers in Wisconsin are under state mandates to have a minimum percentage of the energy they deliver coming from renewable resources.

Manual

Analyzing Regional Demand for Green Power – Survey Project How-To Manual; Survey Research Center (SRC), University of Wisconsin – River Falls; David Trechter and Shelley Hadley; 2008 - This manual was developed to help organize, develop and complete successful bio-energy survey projects. It is intended for researchers who want to to better understand the regional market for renewable or “green” power. The actual manual contains detailed step-by-step instruction for those considering a mail survey project and describes a case study of a recent survey project.

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