Heating with grass

By Christy Marsters

The Hants Journal/NovaNewsNow.com

Norbert Kungl has been an organic vegetable farmer in Bramber for more than two decades, and he has proposed an idea to rejuvenate the farming industry in Hants County.

Kungl, who is also a consultant for the Hants County Federation of Agriculture, presented his plan for producing energy grasses in this area at a Committee of the Whole session in Windsor Feb. 10. The grasses, he explained, could be used for alternative heating.

Hants County has a tremendous capacity for producing tall growing grasses -- such as switch grass and reed canary grass -- that can be produced into pellets and used for more environmentally efficient fuels, Kungl noted. “The fuel itself is carbon neutral.”

This means that from one year to the next the C02 emitted from these grasses would be recycled as new energy grass crops intake the C02 outputted by transforming it into nutrients for growth. Energy grasses will grow to be three to four feet taller than other grass.

Less vulnerable resource

This fuel source is far less vulnerable to political and environmental disasters and it can be manufactured in a way that could produce the equivalent of one litre of oil for 50 cents, Kungl said. “Last year, it didn’t feel that good to drive up to the pumps.”

Energy Grasses are not at a point to be utilized as fuel for cars but could be used as a heating source or to produce steam electricity, Kungl said. “Once people realize they are saving money by changing their behavior, a community would embrace a project like this. While offering green energy...and coming to term with our wasteful habits.”

Wood pellets, to which energy grass pellets are similar, are in such strong demand right now but the opportunity is here to think long term, Kungl said. “This is the first realistic opportunity to keep farmers farming. It will have a dramatic effect on rural Nova Scotia and rural Hants County… and it’s a lifeline for rural farm infrastructure.”

Once over the threshold of development, this idea has the potential to cut millions of litres of imported oil, alleviate environmental concerns and create new possibilities for Hants County, Kungl added.

Everyone a winner “Now there is a crop we can grow and sell at a profit…,” Kungl said. “My goal will be to organize a group of farmers to rent this unused land (within Hants County) and grow energy grass on it. It is a win-win for everyone involved.”

Windsor Mayor Paul Beazley said he thinks this proposal to product energy grasses in Hants County has unlimited potential for this area and he is all in favour of the idea.

The plan would benefit the town and put this area on the leading edge of the green revolution, Beazley noted. “I am a big supporter of working with our environment.”

Also, with this resource being produced in this area, there’d have to be a production plant somewhere and it would have to be local to the industry it’s going to conserve, Beazley said. “You’d want some type of plant near the pilot product” to produce the pellets without having to transport large bails of the grasses over long distances.

But, it’ll all come down to money, Beazley said. “The greatest ideas all need money.”

Right now, the timing is good and the benefits could be tremendous, Beazley added. “If it can provide a viable and sustainable revenue for local farmers, it’s even better.”