Switch Grass No Likely Substitute for Coal
Stu Johnson (2010-04-21)

LEXINGTON, KY (WEKU) - Coal is the primary source of power for Kentucky's generators. It's been that way for years and will likely continue for years to come. At the same time, the push for environmentally friendly, renewable fuels like switch grass.

The plant is native to Kentucky and can grow six to eight foot tall. For the most part it's used as forage to feed cattle. In recent years, the focus is on the plant's fuel potential. University of Kentucky agronomy specialist, Tom Keene says, like coal, switch grass can be burned to generate electricity.

"It is a supplement to coal and I don't think the word alternative should be used and I think that's where we kind of get in a quandary we're never gonna' replace coal in Kentucky to produce low cost electricity for the citizens of Kentucky," said Keene.

A pilot project between U-K and East Kentucky Power Cooperative has 20 northeast Kentucky farmers growing tons of the grass. It was mixed with coal for a test burn at Cooperative generating units in Maysville a few weeks ago. Keene says switch grass grows all over Kentucky, but it's only part of the state's solution to energy needs.

"If we grew every acre of switch grass we still couldn't meet the total energy needs not only of Kentucky but surrounding states," said Keene.

Nick Comer with East Kentucky Power Coop says loose switch grass was mixed with coal last year. This spring's second test involved hockey puck sized pellets of switch grass. Comer says the power generating units can't burn pure switch grass. He says it burns at about two-thirds the B-T-U content of coal. Comer says it amounts to a break even formula when it comes to carbon.

"As it grows in the field it absorbs carbon and when we burn it in the unit it releases that carbon so if your on grow burn type of cycle it's a roughly carbon neutral type of fuel," said Comer.

Of course, carbon is a key word in the debate over ways to improve our environment. While switch grass appears preferable over coal as an environmentally friendly fuel, Elizabeth Crowe of the Kentucky Environmental Foundation says it's important to look at the entire energy source picture.

"You know if there are some biomass sources that require a lot of water to grow a lot of fuel to transport a lot of harmful pesticides for example those are things that can have a serious impact on our health and environment," said Crowe.

Crowe says it's too soon to know if concerns associated with switch grass outweigh its benefits. Her organization urges a diversity of energy sources like solar, hydro, and wind power.

"Every one of our seven bordering states has utility scale wind farms and I don't think that if the wind blows in Missouri and in Tennessee and Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois and in West Virginia that somehow it's not blowing in Kentucky," said Crowe.

Crowe says improving alternative power technologies and utility plant efficiencies can carry substantial benefits. But she knows progress on establishing alternative fuel use is an uphill battle, not to mention the question of the political will to make changes.

Nick Comer with East Kentucky Power says the utility is open to investigating supplemental sources of power.

"You know we may be doing wind or solar in the future but again that's not gonna' replace coal those may be pieces of the puzzle efficiency may be a piece of the puzzle in the future switch grass may be a piece of the puzzle," said Comer.

Comer says the aim is to try to find a supplemental fuel that burns cleaner than coal and is still affordable for consumers. He says a recent switch grass test burn didn't produce any firm findings about emissions.

"But certainly this year and next year as we get larger amounts of switch grass being mixed in their I think we're gonna' get a look at that and we don't expect it's gonna' have a big affect but that's why we do these pilot projects so we can find out for sure," said Comer.

Plans call for burning 500 tons of switch grass next year and a thousand tons the following year. Tom Keene with U-K agronomy says one utility, Ohio Utilities, is using biomass fuels on a consistent basis.

"They already have mandates in place for their coal burning facilities that generate electricity to begin to implement certain percentages of alternative energies such as switch grass and so forth into their coal for cleaner energy when that's gonna' happen in Kentucky we're not sure," said Keene.

Keene says it's difficult at this time to know how profitable switch grass production could eventually be for Kentucky growers. For the time being it's part of East Kentucky Power's plans. The Utility will pay U-K 40 dollars per ton for switch grass grown in the 2010 and 2011 seasons.