Biofuel Program from Minnesota Promotes Sustainable Biofuels and Conservation

A new Minnesota bioenergy program promotes sustainable biofuels side by side with conservation. In 2007. the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) was directed to establish and administer a reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) clean energy program. The primary intent of the program is to support native perennial biofuels production with secondary environmental and conservation benefits, including water quality, soil health, reduction of chemical inputs, soil carbon storage, biodiversity and wildlife habitat. As such, RIM-clean energy is not a traditional conservation easement program but is designed to be a new and innovative “working lands” easement program.  Reinvest in Minnesota – Clean Energy  Program Guidelines and Standards, represents the initial steps necessary to establish and administer a RIM-clean energy program and could be used by other states seeking to develop clean energy standards and programs for biofuels.

A RIM-clean energy program is one component of a suite of initiatives that promotes a cellulosic biofuels industry in Minnesota from which many could benefit. Landowners and farmers would benefit economically from a RIM-clean energy easement program and from their independent contracts with bioenergy facilities; bioenergy facility owners and operators would benefit from an increased supply of native perennial biofuel feedstock; and citizens of the State of Minnesota would benefit from improved water quality and soil health, increased wildlife habitat, and the aesthetic value of the lands placed in easement.